The 39th anniversary of the Vankalai Church massacre was solemnly commemorated at St. Anne's Church in Vankalai, Mannar, marking the day when members of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) fatally shot Reverend Father Mary Bastian and nine other locals, including children, at the Vankalai Church on 6 January 1985.
Rev. Bastian, a revered Catholic parish priest, was not only a spiritual leader but also a passionate advocate for civilians affected by the conflict between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He played a crucial role through his humanitarian work and highlighting the atrocities committed by the SLA against Tamil civilians. During the military offensives in 1984 in the Mannar region, Rev. Bastian and Rev. Jeyarajasingham of the Methodist Church in Murunkan initiated a campaign to expose the atrocities perpetrated by the SLA on Mannar-based Tamil civilians. This campaign aimed to bring the attention of international human rights organisations to the crimes committed by the SLA.
After a landmine attack on 4 December 1984, in which several soldiers were killed, the SLA responded with a brutal massacre of hundreds of innocent Tamil civilians working in their paddy fields. On 13 December 1984, Rev. Jeyarajasingham was shot dead by the SLA while traveling in his vehicle. Rev. Bastian, undeterred by threats, assisted in collecting the remains of the victims and delivering them to the authorities. He was warned by the SLA not to interfere in their activities on 31 December 1984. On 6 January 1985, the Army surrounded Vankalai and opened fire on the local St. Anne's Church, killing Rev. Bastian and other civilians. Eyewitnesses recall the SLA dragging his lifeless body from the site to an undisclosed location. The then government fully denied allegations against the SLA.
During the 39th memorial ceremony, floral tributes were offered to the statue of Reverend Bastian, and prayers were conducted. Following this, a lamp was lit in respect of those killed during the massacre. Mannar Diocesan Bishop officiated at the consecration ceremony, bringing a solemn and spiritual dimension to the remembrance event. The atmosphere was somber as the community gathered to remember and honour the lives lost in the Vankalai Church massacre.
