On 18 November 2006, at about 10.30 am, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) Army personnel had approached the premises of the Agriculture Farm School in Thandikulam, Vavuniya from several fronts firing in the air with live ammunition. Several students dressed in uniform were engaged in Practicals at the time. On hearing the firing the students had taken cover by lying flat on the ground.

On entering the school premises, members of the GOSL’s Army had ordered the students to stand up. At this point, one student Ramachandran Atchuthan, had stood up and explained that all those present were students of the said school and had no connection whatsoever to an earlier claymore mine attack that had been carried out on a Sri Lanka Army vehicle.

At this stage the GOSL Army personnel shot Atchuthan in the head at point blank range. Subsequently three other students, Gopinath from Thirukonamalai, Rizwan Mohammed of from Mattakalappu, Thirunamam Sinthujan from Vavuniya and Sangaralingam Sinthujan were also shot in execution style killings. The GOSL Army personnel then proceeded to open fire randomly at the remaining students, grievously wounding ten students of whom six were girls.

The soldiers who entered the school premises had come from the check post located at Soya Lane.  Vavuniya magistrate M. Ilancheliyan visited the Vavuniya hospital and conducted initial inquiries. Thandikulam is located 4 km north of Vavuniya on A9. Omanthai is situated about 17 km north of Vavuniya.