ERASING THE EELAM VICTORY PT 16 A2
Posted on July 4th, 2021
KAMALIKA PIERIS
The LTTE had a deep hatred of Buddhism and showed it by repeated attacks on temples, bhikkhus and worshippers. LTTE attacked sri Maha Bodhi and Dalada Maligawa .There was also an inhuman massacred of samanera at Arantalawa.
LTTE ATTACK AT ARANTALAWA
On June 2nd 1987 the samanera from a temple in Mahavapi in the eastern province, with the Chief Priest Ven. Hegoda Indrasara and few civilians set off on a pilgrimage to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. They were stopped near the village of Nuwerathanne by 20 armed LTTE. The driver was ordered to drive the bus in to the jungles of Arantalawa, the samanera and others were attacked with swords and knives by the LTTE and then shot. Altogether 31 monks and three civilians were killed, including the chief monk. Four novice monks escaped death with critical injuries and three are living with medical aid. One is permanently disabled.[1]
In 2020, Ven. Andaulpatha Buddhasara who survived the Arantalawa massacre of Buddhist monks filed a fundamental rights application, asking the acting IGP to file a case against LTTE cadres who were responsible for the attack. The thera also asked for Rs. 20 million as compensation.[2] The petitioner monk was fifteen years and six months at the time of the attack. He has suffered disability.[3] The petitioner has demanded four million rupees in damages from the State.[4]
In 2003, the Helabima Organisation and the STF (Special Task Force) built a monument near the place where the massacre occurred. This monument stands alone in the middle of the jungles of Arantalawa
In 2013, a memorial museum was built on this location using the same bus in which these monks were traveling. The gruesome last minutes of these small novice monks has been re created inside this bus by a local artist. This exhibit is open to public.[5]
Monument of Arantalawa Massacre
SEE BELOW.
A farmer M. H. Kiriappu, 60, weeps as he looks at a photograph at an exhibition in Colombo, of his Buddhist monk son, Ven. Thaligamuwe Uparatane who was killed by LTTE terrorists in Arantalawa 20 years ago. [6]
Eye Witness of Aranthalawa LTTE Attack
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[6] https://web.archive.org/web/20070603074349/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070601_01