Trincomalee Massacres 1985

January 1, 1985
Trincomalee
Mass killing
150 +
Killed

What Happened

On 03.05.1985, 50 civilians were killed by Sinhala mobs and the Sri Lankan military in Mahindapura and Dehiwatta.

On 03.06.1985, 13 civilians were killed in a bus in Trincomalee. Thankathurai, a former Member of Parliament, aged 70 at that time, was an eye witness and the only survivor of this massacre.

On 23.05.1985, eight civilians were shot dead by the Sri Lankan military in Nilaveli.

On 24.05.1985, 9 civilians were shot dead in Pankulam. Two civilians who went to Thehiwaththa to purchase items were also killed.

A father and his 12 year old son who went to visit relatives in Kankuveli were hacked to death by the Sri Lankan home guards.

On 27.05.1985, a bus was stopped at 52nd Milepost in Mahinthapura and 7 Tamil civilians including driver Pushparaja were shot dead and their bodies were burnt by the Sinhala home guards.

Perpetrators

Sri Lankan Security Forces

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (18 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Victim 1 (Mahindapura) -
2 Victim 2 (Mahindapura) -
3 Victim 3 (Dehiwatta) -
4 Victim 4 (Nilaveli) -
5 Victim 5 (Nilaveli) -
6 Victim 6 (Pankulam) -
7 Victim 7 (Pankulam) -
8 Shopper 1 (Thehiwaththa) -
9 Shopper 2 (Thehiwaththa) -
10 Bus victim 1 -
11 Bus victim 2 -
12 Bus victim 3 -
13 Thankathurai 70 Former Member of Parliament
14 Menkamam villager -
15 Kankuveli villager -
16 Paddithidal villager -
17 Firewood collector 1 -
18 Firewood collector 2 -
Children (age ≤ 12)