Thirunelveli comes under the Nallur Assistant Government Agent Division in the Jaffna district. It is located north of the Jaffna town, 3 Kms from it, along the Palaly road. Jaffna University, Jaffna Technical College and several Government offices are located in Thirunelveli.
On 23.07.1983 at 11.45 am, a Sri Lankan military vehicle on patrol came under a landmine attack on Palaly Road between Parameshwara Junction and Thirunelveli Junction. Thirteen Sri Lankan military soldiers were killed in this attack. That night and on the following day, the military entered the homes of civilians in Palaly Road and Sivan Amman village and in total they shot dead 51 people. Many homes were set alight.
Available names of victims (name, occupation, age)
1. Nagalingam Sivalingam, Supervisor, 35
2. Sinnaiya Sathananthan, Watch repairer, 40
3. Kanthaiya Sanmukanathan, 60
4. Seevaratnam Thaventhiran, Student, 19
5. Kanakaratnam Kirusnanantham, Business, 33
6. Sanmukanathan Saththiyathevan, Salesman, 18
7. Palachchanthiran Ajith, Child, 6
8. Thankarasa Kajendhiran, Student, 9
9. Selvakanthini, Child, 11
10. Pilip Alociyas Santhirasekaram, Business, 34
11. Ponnaiya Bararayasingam, Teacher, –
12. Ramasami Nagarasa, Labourer, 24
13. Supramaniyam Barameswaran, Manager, 39
14. Sinnaththampi Saravanamuththu, Teacher, 39
