The Eastern University is in the Vantharumoolai village in Batticaloa. This is one of the 13 universities in the island. At any given year about 3000 students will be enrolled in this university.
In 1990, following Sri Lankan military attacks on people, people from many regions of Batticaloa have taken refuge in the Eastern University.
On 23.05.1990, large number of Sri Lankan military arrived from the Saththurukondan military camp at the Eastern University. They arrested 58 young men tied their hands and legs and took them to the neighbouring villages. There they were all killed. The military came again on 24.05.1990 and arrested
another 168 people who had taken refuge at the Eastern University. They were also killed in a similar manner to the earlier massacre.
226 people were killed in these days by the Sri Lankan military.