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| A diaspora based individual sharing his thoughts on the commemoration ceremony. Pix: Marainathy/ Jaffna Dicocease |
The 40th anniversary of the Mannar massacre was commemorated on September 6 at the Belleville Church Hall, France with the participation of relatives of victims and local Tamil residents in the region.
The event was organized by the Mannar District Development Association in France and began with a memorial Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Anburasa of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation, followed by a remembrance program.
During the commemoration, a flame of sacrifice was lit in honor of the victims, accompanied by tributes, memorial addresses, and reflections by relatives of the victims and the witnesses who were forced to leave the country as well.
Rev. Fr. Anburasa also presented his book 84,85 மன்னாà®°் படுகொலைகள் சொல்வதென்ன(“What Do the Mannar Massacres of 1984–85 Tell Us?”), which documents the events surrounding the tragedy.
The massacre took place on January 4, 1984, near the 11th Mile Junction along Murungan Main Road in Mannar, following a landmine explosion.
In its aftermath, security forces indiscriminately opened fire on civilians, including pedestrians, bus passengers traveling between Vavuniya and Mannar, farmers working in paddy fields, government employees at the Murungan Post Office, and residents. Around 200 people were killed.
Rev. Fr. Anburasa’s book serves as a historical record of these atrocities and seeks to preserve the memory of the victims for future generations. (Pix courtesy - Marainathay/ Jaffna Diocese)
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