Three Memorials at Theeruvil, Vellivettiturai

The first memorial at Theeruvil (near Pt Pedro), known as the ‘Theeruvil Monument’, was built by the LTTE, in 1987, to commemorate 12 cadre, including Lt Cols. Kumarappa and Pulenthiran, who took cyanide when the IPKF handed them over to the SLA, soon after the 1987 Vadamarachchi operation.

The monument was built where their remains were cremated. Another memorial was built here to commemorate the suicide of Colonel Kittu (Sathasivam Krishnakumar), Senior Commander of the LTTE (along with 9 other cadre), when they were intercepted by the Indian Navy, as Kittu sought to enter the shores of Sri Lanka clandestinely, in January 1993.

This memorial was re-built after the first memorial was destroyed by the SLA, in 2002. Both memorials were destroyed by the army in 2010. Current reports indicate that the VVT Urban Council has bought the land from its private owners, fought the SLA’s claims to ownership, and built a public park there.