A memorial was held to honour the memory of the more than 140 Tamils who were killed in the Navaly Church Massacre on July 9, 1995, at St Peter’s Church in Navaly.
Several Tamils gathered to pay floral tributes and light candles at the same church this week.
In 1995, 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, were killed on the spot. At least 13 children were among the dead, with many more succumbing to injuries later as the local hospital was swamped with the wounded. For more on the massacre, see here.