Thiriyai massacre ­08.06.1985

Thiriyai is situated in the northeast region of the Trincomalee district. On 08.06.1985, around 5.30am in the morning, Sri Lankan Air force helicopters flew at low level and began shooting. Sri Lankan military came in vehicles and told the people to leave the area before they begin shooting. After people left, 700 houses,

400 houses in Thiriyai and 300 houses in Kallapatrai were burnt down. Stored paddy and farming equipments were burnt with the houses.

Following this incident, displaced people stayed in schools. On 08.08.1985, the Sri Lankan military attacked the civilians in the schools. Ten civilians were killed including retired Grama Sevakar, Narayanapillai, President of the Thiriyai Multi Purpose Society, K Thurainayagam, Secretary of Thiriyai refugees rehabilitation centre, K.Ekamparam, and the Principal of Thiriyai Vidhyalayam, P Mahadeva.

In addition, on 14.08.1985, 6 civilians were pulled out of a bus and hacked to death.