Poththuvil massacre­ 30.07.1990

In 1990 hostilities between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE resumed. In the east the Sri Lankan military, Sinhala thugs, and their homes guards started to attack Tamil civilians.

On 10.06.1990, as a result of attacks by the military and Muslim groups, people displaced to the

Komari refugee camp. People returned to their homes on 30.07.1990, trusting the promises made by the Sri Lankan military and government officials. Returning people found that their homes were broken into and many valuables were stolen. Homes were also destroyed. As a result the people displaced again to Poththuvil Methodist Mahavidyalayam.

Young men and women among the refugees at the Pothuvil Methodist Mahavidyalayam were forced to go out for work to support their families. 12 of them were arrested by the military and the Muslim groups and taken to the Poththuvil Police Station. Those arrested were taken to the open space near the Police Station few at a time and were burnt alive.

Except for a few who escaped all the rest of those arrested were burnt alive by 01.08.1990. 125 young people died in this atrocity by the military and the Muslim groups.