Vattrapalai Shelling

May 18, 1992
Vattrapalai, Mullaitivu
Shelling
15
Killed
60
Injured

What Happened

On 18.05.1992, the Sri Lankan Army shelled the village of Vattrapalai in Jaffna district. The shelling targeted civilian areas where families were going about their daily activities. 15 Tamil civilians were killed and over 60 were injured in the attack. Among the dead were women, children and elderly people. The village was known for its fishing community. Survivors described how shells fell without warning on homes and streets. Many victims were killed instantly while others died from their injuries. The attack was part of a pattern of military shelling of Tamil civilian areas during this period.

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 (27 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Navaratnasamy Uvarasini Student
2 Shanmugalingham 42 -
3 Mariapiragasam Antony 35 -
4 Navaratnasamy Sivasegaram -
5 Navaratnam Inthuja 12 (Child) Student
6 Navaratnam Sivanesam 32 Housewife
7 Navaratnam Rajitha 10 (Child) Student
8 Kanapathipillai Sithamparanathan 17 Student
9 Thambirasa Sriskantharasa 33 Farmer
10 Kulanthaivadivel Jegatheeswaran 24 Farmer
11 Sathasivam Navaratnam 36 Fisherman
12 Mariapiragasam Antony 35 Private Worker
13 Karthigesu Niththiarasa 18 -
14 Kaneshalingham Punitha 3 (Child) Infant
15 Vettivelu Mathyvathanam 13 -
16 Sanmugalingham Santhirasegar 16 -
17 Santhinithevy 16 -
18 Kumarasamy Kaneshasuntharam 16 -
19 Nesam 32 -
20 Murugaiah 24 -
21 Vijayaratnam 7 (Child) Student
22 Rejeth 27 -
23 Inthuya 6 (Child) Student
24 Vadivelu 40 -
25 Kanageswaran 20 -
26 Eswaran 21 -
27 Navaratnam Inthuya 12 (Child) Student
Children (age ≤ 12)