The 35th Martyrs’ Day was solemnly observed in Eravur last night, commemorating the 121 Muslims massacred in Eravur and its surrounding villages on August 11, 1990.
The memorial prayers were organized by the Martyrs’ Memorial Council under the leadership of its founding chairman, M.L. Abdul Latheef. Eravur City Divisional Secretary S.H. Muzammil, former State Minister Alisahir Maulana, Eravur Municipal Council Chairman S.M. Nazeem, Municipal Council Secretary M.H.M. Hameem, and many relatives of the victims attended the event.
Shops and businesses in Eravur city remained closed in tribute to the victims.
During the commemoration, Eravur Urban Council Chairman S.M. Nazeem handed over a memorandum to the President through Divisional Secretary Muzammil. The memorandum called for justice and compensation for the families of the victims, the expansion of Eravur city and Eravurpattu boundaries, and greater involvement of civil society in negotiations with the government.
Background to the Massacre
On the night of 11–12 August 1990, armed militants from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)—carried out coordinated attacks on Eravur and nearby villages including Surattayankuda, Michnagar, Meerakerni, Saddam Hussein village, and Punnakuda. Witnesses recounted how residents were dragged from their homes and executed, with entire families wiped out.
The killings were indiscriminate—men, women, and children were among the victims, including reports of unspeakable brutality against a pregnant woman. Estimates place the death toll between 116 and 173, though the Eravur community annually commemorates the loss of 121 lives.
This atrocity occurred just days after the Kattankudy mosque massacre in which 147 Muslim worshippers were killed. The two events intensified ethnic tensions in the Eastern Province, sparking retaliatory violence and leading to the displacement of thousands of Muslims from predominantly Tamil areas. Many survivors lost their homes, agricultural lands, and livelihoods—over 63,000 acres of Muslim-owned land in the Eastern Province was reportedly abandoned or seized in the aftermath.
Although the LTTE denied involvement, many survivors identified the attackers as LTTE cadres. Government forces were criticized for their slow response, and no one has ever been brought to justice for the massacre.
A Continuing Call for Justice
The memorandum submitted during the 35th Martyrs’ Day highlighted not only the need for justice and reparations, but also the importance of land rights, border security, and the inclusion of civil society in discussions with the government.
Community leaders emphasized that those killed in the massacre were targeted solely for their Muslim identity and that recognition of this crime, alongside concrete compensation and protection, is vital for reconciliation and healing.
