The LTT have made spectacular gains against the army, dampening President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s hopes of winning a second term in elections due to be held on 21st December 1999. Thousands of soldiers were killed and millions of pounds spent by the government to capture the territory that has been retaken by the LTT in less than three weeks. (operation unceasing waves  – 3)

Media censorship was reimposed after the LTT seized 10 military bases at the beginning of the month in what was one of the army’s worst setbacks since the start of the genocidal war on Eelamtamils.

On 20th November 1999, the SLAFs were advancing through the forest towards the church and continually firing their weapons. As a result, people in the villages, such as Palampuddi, also displaced to the surroundings of Madhu church. When the SLAFs arrived they forced all the Eelamtamils to go to the church. At 9.45 pm the SLAFs started shelling. Two of the shells fell on the  tree in front of the church. The third shell fell on the church.

The attack happened late on th night of 20th November, when most of the 3,000 refugees were sleeping in the church compound.  It was the Sri Lankan army which launched a sudden artillery attack, causing the mass slaughter of innocent Eelamtamils. 

The attack on the church is particularly sensitive because the 17th-century shrine is revered across the Island by Christians and non-Christians alike, and by both the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Even though, one of the religion in Sri Lanka is Buddhism, people flock from around the war-torn island to see the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is said to have miraculous healing powers.

Available names of victims (name, occupation, age) :

Nikkalasjud Yalini (Teacher 25),  Sooriyakumar Suganthan (Farmer 22), Inthiramohan Thadshajini (Student 13),  Kalithasan Selvakumary (House wife 22),  Kiresu Selvarasa (Farmer 39), Kunaveerasingham (House wife 22),  Kunaveerasingham Suganja 09,  Tharmalingham Tharmaneethan (Student 10), Tharmalingham Shanthakeethan (Infant 04), Thisaiveerasingham Mathyrajah  (Infant 03), Muniyandi Uthayakumar (Farmer 22),  Muniyandi Selvam (House wife 55), Selvarasa Nirajah (Student 09),  Selvarasa Rathan (Student 12),  Veluppillai Tharmalingham 44, Santhiramohan Papitharan (Student 06),  Santhiramohan Sujitharan (Student 09), Santhiramohan Suthakaran (Student 09), Santhiramohan Poomani (House wife 61), Sivanantham Suganthini (House wife 22), Sripaskaran Mainthini (Infant 03), Egamparam Rameswary (House wife 52), Variththamby Pavani (Student 17),  Sathasivam Mannan 21, Sooriyakumar Suganthy (House wife 23), Navaratnam Rajeswary (House wife 58), Kanagaratnam Variththamby (Farmer 54), Karunairasa Kapaskar (Student 15),  Karunairasa Theivanai (House wife 49), Kunaveerasingham Logeswary (Student 10), Kunaveerasingham Suveniya (Student 20), Thampappillai Thesaiveerasingham (Farmer 46), Thesaiveerasingham Mathyrajah (Infant 03), Thesaiveerasingham Ampigavathy (House wife 37),  Muthiah Sivanantham (Farmer 26),  Jeyaram Jeyaseelan (Student 18).