Tamils mark 40th year commemoration of Othiyamalai massacre as intelligence officers circle

The 40th anniversary of the tragic Othiyamalai Massacre was commemorated at the memorial in Othiyamalai village, in the Mullaitivu district on Monday, as plainclothes Sri Lankan intelligence officers monitored the event.

This commemoration honoured the 32 Tamil villagers who lost their lives in one of the darkest chapters of the region's history.

The event, organised with traditional food offerings, saw relatives and community members gathering to pay their respects. Floral tributes were offered at the memorial as family members lit lamps in memory of the victims.

Othiyamalai, a border village 5 kilometres from Nedunkeni, was targeted in a brutal operation on the morning of December 2, 1984 when Sri Lankan soldiers entered the village, reportedly from a nearby army camp. They dragged the village’s men and youths to the community centre.

What followed was a calculated act of violence. The victims were stripped of their clothes, bound, and executed. Twenty-seven individuals were killed on-site, while another five were abducted and later killed. In total, 32 innocent men were murdered that day.

The anniversary event was not without tension. Organisers reported that Sri Lankan police officers visited the memorial site on December 1, conducting investigations and demanding the removal of loudspeakers. As a result, the commemoration was conducted using smaller box speakers. Intelligence officers on motorcycles without number plates were also reportedly seen near the site, raising concerns about surveillance and intimidation.

Despite these challenges, the event was attended by prominent figures, including Vanni district Members of Parliament Durairasa Ravikaran and P Sathyalingam, National People's Power (NPP) Mullaitivu district organizer Sivaruban, relatives of the victims, and residents.