List of attacks attributed to the LTTE, 1980s

The following is a list of chronological attacks attributed to the LTTE in 1980s during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The deadliest attack for the decade was the Anuradhapura massacre in 1985.

Main article: List of attacks attributed to the LTTE

Attacks in chronological order

1983
DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
July 23Four Four Bravo: 13 soldiers are killed in an LTTE ambush in Jaffna, sparking anti-Tamil riots that cause the death of approximately 4000 Tamils across Sri Lanka during four days, in what would be later labelled as Black July.Jaffna, Jaffna District1313

[1]

1984

1984 marked the intensification of the war between the Tamil separatists and the Sri Lankan government, as well as the first reports of civilian massacres by the LTTE.

DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
November 11Dollar Farm massacre: 33 civilians which included women and children were attacked in Dollar Farm village in the night by an armed group made up of LTTE cadres.Mullaitivu District3333[2]
November 30Kent Farm massacre: Following the attack on the Dollar Farm village, a second night raid was launched by the LTTE cadres which targeted the Kent Farm village, 29 civilians including women and children were massacred. They also looted and set fire on to victims houses.Mullaitivu District2929[2]
December 1Kokilai massacre: LTTE cadres kill eleven Sinhalese civilians in the fishing village of Kokilai.Kokkilai, Mullaitivu District1111[3]
December 31LTTE members kill 4 Tamil civilians and dump them outside of Batticaloa for refusing to fight for the group. Altogether 30 Tamil civilians were killed for similar reasons in 1984.Batticaloa, Batticaloa District3030[4]

1985

1985 marked a major escalation of hostilities. For the first time the LTTE attacked a major Sinhalese majority town killing 146 unarmed civilians. The impact of this attack was felt across the island and received worldwide attention.

DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
January 2022 soldiers and 10 civilians are killed in a train explosion set off by the LTTE.Colombo, Colombo District3333[5]
May 5Wilpattu Village Massacre: Wilpattu, a Sinhalese village in Anuradhapura District, was the target of a raid of an armed group of LTTE cadres, who killed 18 villagers that included women and children.Wilpattu, Anuradhapura District1818[6]
May 14Anuradhapura massacre: LTTE gunmen shoot dead 146 Sinhalese civilians and injure 85 others as they were praying at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred Buddhist shrine in Anuradhapura.Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura District146146[7]
May 14LTTE cadres shoot dead 18 Sinhalese civilians in the Wilpattu National Park while they are fleeing from the massacre of 146 civilians earlier in the day (see Anuradhapura massacre).Wilpattu National Park, Anuradhapura District1818[3]
May 30LTTE cadres shoot and kill five Sinhalese civilians in the villages of Mahandapura and Dehiwatta. People of these villages had previously received numerous threats from the LTTE associates. This massacre was part of a series of massacres aimed at displacing Sinhalese from the North East of Sri Lanka.Mahandapura and Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District55[8]
June 4Dehiwatta Village Massacre: Armed with sharp weapons over 100 LTTE cadres killed 15 villagers on their sleeping mats in the village of Dehiwatta. Victims included women and children, which were the majority killed.Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District1515[6]
June 1113 Sinhalese civilians are shot dead by LTTE gunmen in Dehiwatta.Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District1313[3]
August 2LTTE cadres shot dead three Sinhalese Buddhist monks and three civilians, while they were worshipping at the Ruhunu Somavathiya Temple.Thrikonamadu, Polonnaruwa District66[3]
August 14Aranthalawa Village Massacre: Seven Sinhalese villagers were tortured and killed at Aranthalawa. They were targeted by an armed group of LTTE cadres.Aranthalawa, Ampara District77[6]
August 18Namalwatta Village Massacre I: A group of LTTE cadres armed with sharp weapons hacked 7 villagers.Namalwatta, Trincomalee District77[6]
November 7Namalwatta Village Massacre II: Ten villagers, including women and children were raided and executed at Namalwatta for the second time.Namalwatta, Trincomalee District1010[6]
December 20Six Madhu pilgrims, abducted by the LTTE on 12/12/85 were executed.Mannar, Mannar District6[3]

1986
DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
February 2Kantale Village massacre: Armed with small arms and swords LTTE cadres raided the village of Kantalai killing 19 civilians.Kantalai, Trincomalee District19[9]
February 19When refugees from Serunuwara, Dehiwatta were being escorted by army personnel along Ella/Kantalai road, LTTE exploded a mine killing 35 civilians and four army personnel.Sittaru Kantalai, Trincomalee District39[3]
May 3Air Lanka Flight 512: LTTE bomb explodes aboard Air Lanka flight carrying mainly French, British and Japanese tourists killing 21 (including 13 foreigners - of whom 3 British, 2 German, 3 French, 2 Japanese, 1 Maldivian and 1 Pakistani) and injuring 41 on Bandaranaike International Airport.Katunayake, Western Province21[3][10]
May 5Kinniya Village massacre: Four Moor civilians were tortured and killed by a group of LTTE cadres.Kinniya, Trincomalee District44[9]
May 6Central Telegraph Office Bombing: The Central Telegraph Office, Colombo was the target on a bomb detonated by the LTTE cadres which killed 14 civilians who were at the office.Colombo14[9]
May 25Mahadivulwewa Village massacre: An armed group of LTTE cadres killed 20 Sinhalese by shooting them dead and set alight 20 houses.Mahadivulwewa, Anuradhapura District2020[3][9]
June 2Trincomalee 3rd Mile post massacre: Civilian homes at the 3rd mile post, Trincomalee were stormed by a group of armed LTTE cadres who killed 10 civilians, including women and childrenTrincomalee10[9]
June 4Andankulam Village massacre: 17–20 civilians, including Ven. Bakamune Subaddalanakara Thero, were attacked, tortured and killed by LTTE cadres in the village of Andankulam.Andankulam, Trincomalee District17–2017–20[3][9]
June 1122 people were killed and another 75 others were injured when two bombs were detonated simultaneously by the LTTE on two buses heading to Kantalai and Colombo respectively. The first bus was front of the Bank of Ceylon Trincomalee branch and the other in close proximity to the SP office.Trincomalee, Trincomalee District22[3][9]
June 21Wilgamwehera Village massacre: 9 civilians, including children, were murdered in the Wilgamwehera hamlet by LTTE cadres.Wilgamwehera, Trincomalee District9[9]
June 25Bomb exploded in a vehicle by LTTE killed 16 Sinhalese.Sittaru, Kantalai, Trincomalee District1616[3]
July 8Monkey Bridge Village massacre: 15 Sinhalese villagers were shot to death by LTTE cadres.Monkey Bridge, Trincomalee District1515[3][9]
July 9Mollipothana Village massacre: Mullipothana village was stormed at night by a group of armed LTTE cadres who killed 16 civilians most of them being women and children.Mullipothana, Trincomalee District16[9]
July 13Pavakkulam Village massacre: Nine Tamil and two Sinhalese villages were killed by four LTTE cadres who had arrived in a jeep to tract No. 16, Pavakkulam.Pavakkulam, Trincomalee District2911[3][9]
July 19Beruwil & Wadigawewa Village massacre: The villages of Beruwil and Waigawewa were stormed by large armed group of LTTE cadres numbering over 100, killing 17 villagers including women and children, as well as causing serious cut wounds to at least 5 others.Beruwil & Wilgamwehera, Trincomalee District17[9]
July 19LTTE cadres shot dead twelve Sinhalese villagers.Wadigawewa, North Central Province1212[3]
July 22LTTE cadres exploded a land-mine on a civilian bus, killing 32 Sinhalese civilians and injuring 20 others.Mammaduwa, Vavuniya District3232
July 24A bomb exploded inside a bus proceeding from Vavuniya to Anuradhapura; killing 13 passengers and injuring 40 others.13[3]
July 24About 50 LTTE cadres entered Damana, a Sinhalese village, and killed nine persons; another 13 were injured.Damana, Central Province9[3]
September 17Kantalai massacre: LTTE cadres entered block No.4 of the Sugar Corporation, Kantalai and ten civilians were shot to death.Kantalai, Trincomalee District71210[3]
September 17Wadigawewa Village massacre: Following the Kantalai massacre, the village of Wadigawewa was attacked by the same group of LTTE cadres who killed 12 villagers including women and children.Wadigawewa, Trincomalee District12[9]

1987
DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
4 FebruaryManthottam massacre: The village of Manthottam, which is mostly made up of Sinhalese, was attacked by a group of 50 armed LTTE cadres, who murdered eight villagers after brutally torturing them. The death toll was reduced since villagers had hid in the surrounding jungles anticipating such an attack.Manthottam, Mannar District8--8[11]
7 FebruaryArantalawa massacre: In a night house-to-house raid LTTE cadres armed with swords, machetes, clubs and small-arms killed 27 to 28 civilians including children and women. Pregnant mothers were found hacked to death and with their necks slashed.Arantalawa, Ampara District???27-28[3][11]
7 MarchAwarantalawa massacre: Six civilians were killed when the LTTE detonated a land-mine as troops were passing. Also killed were seven soldiers and four NAF soldiers.Awarantalawa, Vavuniya District???17[3][11]
22 MarchSerunuwara Horowpathana massacre: LTTE cadres shot dead 26 Sinhalese villagers.Serunuwara Horowpathana26??26[3][11]
25 MarchSerunuwara massacre: Armed LTTE cadres stormed Serunuwara village, mostly inhabited by Sinhalese, and herded the farming families at gunpoint to a road. They were then shot there in execution style. In total 25 villagers were killed, most of whom were women and children.Serunuwara, Trincomalee District25--25[11]
17 AprilAluth Oya massacre: LTTE cadres shot dead 127 Sinhalese civilians, including 31 police and security force personnel who were travelling in 3 buses and 2 trucks to Trincomalee. The cadres clad in military uniforms stopped the vehicles and dragged out the passengers and shot them to death with automatic weapons after brutally assaulting them with clubs. Over 70 with injuries were air lifted. The dead included many children and 12 off duty security personnel. Most of the victims were families visiting their relatives for the new year.Aluth oya, Habarana, Anuradhapura District127--127[3][12]
20 AprilJayanthipura Massacre: The majority Sinhalese village of Jayanthipura was raided by a group of armed LTTE who murdered 15 civilians including women and children.Jayanthipura, Polonnaruwa District15--15[11]
21 AprilCentral Bus Station Bombing: A bomb detonated by LTTE operatives at the central bus terminal of Colombo killed 113 civilians, two policemen and a soldier; 298 others were injured.Pettah, Colombo District???116[11]
21 AprilJayanthipura massacre: 15 Sinhalese villagers were shot dead by LTTE cadres.Jayanthipura, Trincomalee District15??15[11]
29 MayAttack on Kadawathmadu: A group of armed LTTE cadres raided the majority Sinhalese village of Kadawathmadu killing seven civilians and leaving five others injured. Due to the LTTE threat, the villagers slept in jungle hideouts during the night, which reduced the casualties.Kadawathmadu, Polonnaruwa District7--7[3][11]
2 JuneAranthalawa Massacre: In the first massacre of Buddhist monks in modern Sri Lankan history, a bus carrying Buddhist monks was stopped by LTTE in Arantalawa. 32 Buddhist monks, including Chief Priest Ven. Hegoda Indrasara, were killed with only one monk surviving.Arantalawa32--32[11][13]
5 JuneNelliady attack: In the first suicide attack by the LTTE Black Tigers, a small truck laden with explosives was driven into a Sri Lanka Army base in Nelliady, Jaffna peninsula by Vallipuram Vasanthan. Over 50 soldiers were killed along with Vasanthan.Nelliady, Jaffna District50--50[11]
11 JuneVeppankulam attack: 13 civilians and a soldier were killed when a private van en route from Horowpathana to Trincomalee was blowup by a LTTE pressure mine.Veppankulam, Trincomalee District???14[3][11]
12 JuneGodapotta massacre: A meeting to discuss a new temple was attacked by the LTTE, who surrounded the temple and attacked the gathering of over 175 villagers, resulting in the deaths of eight villagers; a soldier and six people were injured.Godapotta, Polonnaruwa District???9[3][11]
21 JuneGodapotta massacre: The hamlet of Godapotha, a majority Sinhalese village in Polonnaruwa was raided by a group of armed LTTE cadres, killing eight villagers and injuring one. The death toll was reduced since villagers had hid in the surrounding jungles anticipating such an attack.Godapotha, Polonnaruwa District???8[11]
29 JulyThoppur massacre: Nine villagers were killed after being tortured by LTTE cadres armed with swords, machetes and small arms.Thoppur, Jaffna District???9[11]
6 OctoberBatticaloa: 18 Sinhalese civilians were shot dead by LTTE cadres.Batticaloa, Batticaloa District18--18[3][11]
6 OctoberTharavi massacre: Tharavi, a majority Sinhalese village, was stormed by over 100 LTTE cadres armed with swords, machetes and small arms, who killed 25 civilians, mostly women and children including infants and pregnant mothers.Tharavi, Batticaloa District25--25[3][11]
6 OctoberSagarapura massacre: A house-to-house massacre was carried out by LTTE cadres, clubbing children to death in front of their parents, and hacking the adults to death using sharp weapons. 27 Sinhalese villagers were shot dead. After looting their victims' homes, these were set alight, burning the wounded victims alive. Another six villagers survived the attack with serious cut wounds.Sagarapura, Trincomalee District27--27[3][11]
6 OctoberValaichchenai massacre: 40 Sinhalese passengers in the night-mail train from Batticaloa were killed by LTTE cadres who stopped the train.Valaichchenai, Batticaloa District40--40[3][11]
7 OctoberPottuvil Monargala Road massacre: 25 Sinhalese passengers travelling by bus were shot dead by LTTE cadres, who also killed five motorcyclists travelling along the same route.Pottuvil, Ampara District???30[3][11]
10 OctoberGanthalawa massacre: Gantalawa hamlet in Kantala was attacked and 9-10 civilians murdered with three wounded by LTTE cadres armed with swords, machetes and small arms.Ganthalawa9-10--9-10[3][11]
15 OctoberElla Kantalai massacre: Ella Kantalai, a majority Sinhalese village, was attacked by LTTE cadres armed with swords, machetes and small arms, killing 14 civilians including women and children.Ella Kantalai, Trincomalee District14--14[11]
16 OctoberPulimodai massacre: A private bus was stopped by LTTE cadres, who removed the Sinhalese people killing 11 including three policemen.Pulimodai, Trincomalee District11--11[3][11]
19 OctoberKalkudah attack: A private bus transporting Tamil passengers was blown up by a LTTE land-mine, killing 40 persons and an IPKF soldierKalkudah, Batticaloa District???41[3][11]
9 NovemberMaradana bombing: 23 civilians were killed and 106 injured by LTTE cadres who exploded a bomb, another 15 were shot dead.Maradana, Colombo District???38[11]
11 NovemberKalkuda massacre: Seven Sinhalese people selling fish were shot dead by LTTE cadres.Kalkudah, Batticaloa District7--7[3][11]
12 NovemberCheddikulam massacre: 12 Tamil persons and 13 PLOTE members were killed when their van was blown up by an LTTE land-mine.Cheddikulam, Vavuniya District-24-24[3][11]
15 DecemberDevalagodella massacre: Devalagodella and Somavathiya villages were attacked by LTTE cadres armed with small arms and sharp weapons, killing 7-9 civilians.Devalagodella, Polonnaruwa District???9[3][11]
22 DecemberMorawewa massacre: 5-6 Sinhalese and a Tamil were abducted and tortured to death by LTTE cadres.Morawewa, Trincomalee District51-6[3][11]
31 DecemberMahadivulwewa massacre: 10 villagers were shot dead and 15 houses burnt by LTTE cadres.Mahadivulwewa, Trincomalee District???10[3][11]
31 DecemberKathankadu massacre: The Muslim majority village of Kathankadu is raided by LTTE cadres armed with sharp weapons and small arms, who carried out the killing of 30 civilians, including women and children with bodies severely mutilated.Kathankadu, Batticaloa District--3030[11]

1988
  • March 2: Morawewa, Trincomalee: LTTE cadres shot dead 14 Sinhalese villagers.[3]
  • March 11: Suhadagama Horowpathana Anuradhapura: A group of LTTE cadres attacked a private bus, 22 Sri 2218, at Suhadagamaw with small arms and grenades, killing 19 passengers and injuring nine others.[3]
  • March 14: Galmitiyawa, Kantalai: LTTE cadres shot dead 13 Sinhalese villagers at Galmitiyawa.[3]
  • March 15: Kivulkade, Morawewa, Trincomalee: Two groups of LTTE operatives entered the village and killed seven Sinhalese villagers.[3]
  • March 17: Deegavapiya, Damana, Ampara: LTTE cadres hacked to death 13 Sinhalese villagers.[3]
  • March 22: Pudukulam, Vavuniya: Between ten and 15 LTTE cadres attacked the Sinhalese village and killed six villagers. Another three were injured.[3]
  • March 22: Medavachchi-kulam Vavuniya: LTTE cadres shot dead nine Sinhalese villagers.[3]
  • March 29: Wewalketiya: A LTTE bomb exploded inside CTB bus 29 Sri 9037 Anuradhapura which was proceeding from Horowpathana to Medavachchiya, killing nine passengers and injuring 14 others.[3]
  • March 31: Saindamaradu, Kalmunai: LTTE cadres attacked the village, killing ten Muslims and seven Tamils.[3]
  • April 8: Horowpathana, Meegaswewa, Anuradhapura: LTTE gunmen killed 14 Sinhalese.[3]
  • May 1: Sittaru Kantalai, Trincomalee: LTTE cadres exploded a land-mine on a CTB bus killing twelve Sinhalese, nine Muslims and five others, who were not identified.[3]
  • July 28: Ethawetunawewa, Weli Oya: LTTE operatives hacked to death 16 Sinhalese villagers.[3]
  • August 16: Trincomalee (opposite Clock Tower): LTTE cadres exploded a bomb, killing sixe Sinhalese, two Muslims, one Tamil and a soldier; 19 persons sustained injuries.[3]
  • August 25: Marawila, Polonnaruwa: LTTE cadres killed eleven civilians by cutting their necks.[3]
  • September 10: 16th Colony, Central Camp Ampara: LTTE cadres shot dead seven Sinhalese and four Tamils.[3]
  • October 9: Mahakongaskada Medavachchiya: LTTE cadres shot dead 44 Sinhalese villagers and set fire to eleven houses.[3]
  • November 14: Paniketiyawa, Gomarakadawela Trincomalee: LTTE cadres shot dead 28 Sinhalese, including two security force personnel.[3]

1989
DateAttackLocationSinhaleseTamilsMuslimsDeath tollSources
January 17Maharambekulam Village massacre99[14]
February 2Bogamuyaya Village massacre1111[3][14]
February 11Dutuwewa Village massacreDutuwewa, Polonnaruwa District3737[3][14]
February 11Singhapura Village massacreSinghapura66[3][14]
February 27Borawewa Village bloodbathBorawewa, Polonnaruwa District3838[3][14]
August 17Nochchikulam Village massacre: An IDE explosion, killing eight civilians and injuring four others.Nochchikulam, Vavuniya District8[3]

See also
  • List of (non-state) terrorist incidents

References
  1. "Timeline: Sri Lanka". BBC News. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  2. LTTE Atrocities, Year 1984, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka
  3. "Letter sent by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Centre for Human Rights". Government of Sri Lanka. 9 August 1994. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015.
  4. "Rebels in Sri Lanka Shoot Four as 'Traitors'". New York Times. New York Times. 1984-12-31. ProQuest 111144709.
  5. "3 Killed in Sri Lanka As Train is Blown Up". New York Times. New York Times. 1985-01-21. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  6. LTTE Atrocities, Year 1985, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka Archived 2015-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Timeline of the Tamil conflict". BBC News. 2000-09-04. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  8. Gunasekara, S.L. (November 4, 2003). The Wages of Sin, ISBN 955-8552-01-1
  9. LTTE Atrocities, Year 1986, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka Archived 2015-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "BBC News, "On this Day" 1986: Bomb kills 21 in Sri Lanka"". BBC News. 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  11. "LTTE Atrocities, Year 1987". 1987. Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  12. "1987: The Bubble Bursts, Chapter 6". UTHR(J).
  13. Elmo Fernando: LTTE massacre site is haven for Tamil victims, BBC Sinhala, January 28, 2005
  14. LTTE Atrocities, Year 1989, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka Archived 2015-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
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