Investigation launched into Aranthalawa Massacre of 1987 - AG tells Supreme Court

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Attorney General on Tuesday (03) informed the Supreme Court that an investigation was launched with regard to the Aranthalawa Massacre of 1987 carried out by the LTTE.

Senior State Counsel Dr. Avanthi Perera appearing for the Attorney General told the Supreme Court that detectives have already recorded statements from Venerable Andaulpatha Buddhasara Thero, a survivor who suffered serious injuries in the heinous attack on 02nd of June 1987.

She informed the bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, 

Achala Wengappuli 

and Janak De Silva that a progress report on the investigations will be filed with the court in due course.

A Fundamental Rights application filed by Venerable Aandhaulpatha Buddhasara Thero with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against the Aranthalawa Massacre was called again for consideration on Tuesday (03).

The application requests an order to be made on the Acting Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General to take immediate legal action against any surviving terrorist responsible for the attack which took place on the 02nd of June 1987.

Venerable Andaulpatha Buddhasara Thero in the petition pointed out 31 monks and 03 civilians were killed in the LTTE attack on the 02nd of June 1987 and several monks including himself suffered serious injuries.

The venerable thero seeks 20 Million Rupees as compensation for injuries caused to him.

The petitioner pointed out several top-level LTTE leaders who were involved in the massacre had put down arms and entered politics and among them are Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias ‘Karuna Amman’ and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias “Pillayan”.

The Acting Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and the Director of State Intelligence were named as respondents in the FR application.

The application will be called up again on the 12th of October 2021.