A survivor of the 1995 Navaly Church massacre who lost his sight when the Sri Lankan air force dropped 13 bombs on St Peter’s Church in Jaffna, graduated from the University of Jaffna this month.
Sasiraj Selvanayagam was just 5-years-old when the attack took place.
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 amongst them.
“Before I could run bombs began falling," recalled Sasiraj, years later." Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion. That is all I remember till I woke up in hospital”.
His mother was killed in their home and he lost his sight completely in the attack.
Read more: ‘Before I could run bombs began falling’ - Remembering the Navaly church massacre
Despite the tragic loss, Sasiraj was amongst the hundreds of graduates at the 36th Convocation of the University of Jaffna earlier this month.