Court to hear Mylanthanai massacre case

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 September 2002, 14:15 GMT]
The Colombo High Court Tuesday fixed September 30 as the date for inquiry into the Mylanthanai massacre case before a panel of Jury. In this case the Attorney General had indicted twenty-one soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army for killing thirty-five Tamil civilians and causing injuries to twenty-four others, court sources said.

The massacre took place on August 9, 1992 at Mylanthanai in Valaichchenai area, Batticaloa district. Following the death of Major General Densil Hobbekaduwa and seven other army and navy officials in a landmine attack at Jaffna, a group of SLA soldiers entered the village of Mylanthanai massacred several villagers, including men, women and children.

The case was earlier listed for inquiry before the eastern High Court. Later the case was transferred to Colombo on an application made on behalf of the accused soldiers.

When the case was taken up for inquiry Tuesday, the court allowed an application that the case be heard before a Jury and postponed the inquiry for September 30.