Thanduvan Bus Massacre

July 17, 1986
Thanduvan, Vavuniya
Bus attack
17
Killed
13
Injured

What Happened

Thanduvan is situated on the Mullaithivu-Vavuniya main road, 4 Kms from Nedunkerni. The main occupation of the village is agriculture.

On 17.07.1988, many people were in the bus connecting Mullaithivu to Nedunkerni. On that day, the Nedunkerni area was cordoned off by the Sri Lankan military under Gen Kobbekaduwa. A military helicopter was supporting the operation.

The Thanduvan people in the bus were unable to proceed to Nedunkerni. The bus driver turned back and started to drive back to Mullaithivu. The military helicopter followed the bus and started to fire at the bus. One Km from the Thanduvan school, a rocket was fired at the bus.

17 people in the bus, including the bus driver were killed. A further 13 people in the bus were injured.

Perpetrators

Sri Lankan Army

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (6 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Segu Abdul Kathar 55 Farmer
2 Nagamani Thatchanamoorthy 30 Government Staff
3 Subramaniyam Sabaratnam 28 -
4 Sivalingham Viveganantham 17 -
5 Kumarasamy Velauthampillai 22 -
6 Muthukumar Kaneswary 35 -
Children (age ≤ 12)