Massacre of Tamils at 1974 World Tamil Research Conference commemorated in Jaffna

A remembrance event was held in Jaffna yesterday to mark the 48th anniversary since the killing of eleven Tamils by Sri Lankan police officers at the 1974 World Tamil Research Conference. 

On January 10, 1974, the final day of the conference, Sri Lankan police officers, led by the Deputy Inspector of Police for Jaffna, Chandrasekara, opened fire at the audience, killing 11 civilians. 

Chandrasekara was later promoted to the post of Inspector of Police by the then prime minister, Srimavo Bandaranayaka.

Ahead of the conference, the Sri Lankan state had been trying to block participants from abroad from attending by delaying their visas. The conference which had been held internationally in France, India and Malaysia was being held in Jaffna that year for the first time.