Mannar Massacre

After a landmine exploded and killed one soldier and injured 11 others, on December 4 1984, SLA soldiers went on a rampage in Mannar town and surrounding villages such as Murunkan and Parappankadal, ransacking a Catholic convent and attacking a hospital, post office, bus passengers and farmers tilling the fields.

Around 150 Tamils were killed during this rampage. Catholic priest Fr Mary Bastian who was a member of the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate this atrocity was killed on January 6th 1985 (see below). Methodist priest Fr George Jeyarajasingham who was a witness was killed on December 13th 1984, while on his way to give evidence.