Navaly Church massacre

Today marks the 26 years since the massacre where bombs were dropped over the Navaly area, killing hundreds and injuring many more including at the Church. 1995, was the year when the Sri Lankan military was fighting hard to retake the Jaffna peninsula.  There was intense artillery shelling and aerial bombardment.

Due to this reason, the military informed civilians to take shelter at places of worship which later became the targetted locations.  

100s of people took refuge in the Navaly Church which was bombed by Pukkara airplane -   dropped 8 to 13 bombs over Navaly, around the church, the Sri Kathirkama Murugan Hindu Temple, and in residential neighborhoods, killing hundreds of people and injuring many more

According to an account by human rights activist Ruki Fernando, the number of dead could have been up to 300, including children. ‘Those killed included minors (a 4-year-old, 3 young boys including 1 whose body was never found, & 2 girls), elders (2 68-year-olds), a Grama Niladhari who was cooking for the displaced & the youth volunteers, 13 members of one family & a woman'

Church bombings in Jaffna, like in Navaly, Gurunagar & Allapipiddy leading to massive loss of civilian lives received little or no national media coverage & acknowledgment from governments. Is this because victims are Tamils and perpetrators are genocide deniers?

‘Bombs rolling in the air’ - Remembering the Navaly church massacre

On this day 25 years ago, the Sri Lankan air force dropped 13 bombs on St Peter’s Church in Navaly. More than 140 sheltering Tamils, who were encouraged by the military to seek refuge at the church, 26 years yet there has been no investigation into the Navaly massacre, and no one has been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted.