Batticaloa Tamils mourn disappearance of 48 Tamils two decades ago

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 August 2010, 06:26 GMT]
Tamils of several villages in Batticaloa district Friday observed the twenty years’ death anniversary of 48 Tamil people who were reported disappeared after being arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on 27th August 1990, with silent procession from Siththaa'ndi Kaa'li Koayil to Siththaa'ndi Murukan Koayil from 9:00 a.m till 11:00 a.m. Relatives of the disappeared participated in the procession with tears. Special prayer was also held in Siththaa'ndi Murukan Temple in remembrance of those “disappeared”.

SLA had cordoned off Siththaa'ndi Murukan Temple on that day and took forty-eight Tamils including women and children who had been called to the temple for interrogation.

Thereafter they were reported disappeared when relatives inquired from the army authorities.

The disappeared Tamils were from the villages, Ka'ruvaakkea'ni, Kiraan, Kumpurumoolai, Chanthive'li, Murakkoddanchchenai, Vanthaa'rumoolai, and Maavadiveampu.

They fled from their houses and sought refuge in the temple to save their lives from the army.