What Happened
In 1990, more than 50,000 Tamils from Sungankerny, Karuvakerny and Bandaramulai villages fled to Eastern University, Batticaloa to escape the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. University lecturers provided refuge and raised white flags for protection. On 5th September 1990, the SLA arrived and arrested 158 innocent civilians, massacring them. On 23rd September 1990, the SLA returned and arrested a further 16 Tamils, massacring them as well. Lecturer Varnakulasingam witnessed the events: "It took the Army 7 days to reach Vantharamullai from Valaichennai. Till then, they slowly went into every village on the way and killed and cut everyone they could." 174 people were killed including children as young as 5 years old.
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Army
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I