Maaththalan is one of the coastal villages in the Mullaithivu district. Most of the people depend on fishing for their livelihood. The beach also doubles up as their leisure area. People of this village had to travel 4 Kms to Puthukkudiyiruppu for purchasing their daily needs. Even to market their fish catch they had to travel this distance.
From the start of the conflict the Sri Lankan Navy has put restrictions on fishing. It also started to attack the fishermen at the sea. Fishermen were forced continue fishing for their livelihood.
On 18.09.1993, people were gathered for the opening of a new public Community Hall that will serve the community’s needs. There were many displaced people among them who had displaced from Jaffna and Kilinochchi. At 4.00 pm a Sri Lankan military helicopter flew past and must have noticed the gathering. At 5.30 pm the Sri Lankan Air Force bombers appeared and dropped more than 10 bombs. Three bombs fell on the brand new hall. 13 civilians died on the spot. More than 40 were injured.
Available names of victims (name, occupation, age)
1. Selliah Selvam (Kannan), Student, 16
2. Thambirasa Kunasingham, Farmer, 18
3. Piransis Arulthas, Fisherman, 23
4. Pelippu Thavarasa Sujaththa, Student, 10
5. Mariathas Anton Jeyapalan, Fisherman, 32
6. Mariathas Immanuvel Aanantharasa, Farmer, 19
7. Danialpillai Pilippu Thavarasa, Fisherman, 39
8. Antonipillai Sagayanayagi, Home maker, 18
9. Jesumark Antanythas, Fisherman, 29
10. Paramanantham, -, 40
11. Shangarasivam Surenthiran, Student, 18
12. Sinnappu Albons, Farmer, 22
13. Mariathas Anton Jesuthas, -, 30
14. Thiagarasa Kannan, Student, 19
15. Immanuvel Aanantharasa, -, 19
16. Sangarasivam Pulenthiran, Student, 15
17. Intrigress Josephs, -, 31
18. Sujaththa Thileep Mery, Student, 09
19. Muththaiah Thuraisingham, -, 45
20. Josephs Vinitta KiresPretti, House wife, 31