Old Vaddakkachchi is anancient village in theKilinochchi district. The
largest water reservoir inthe region, the Iranaimadhuwater reservoir, is in thisvillage. The rice fields in
this village are able toproduce twice a year usingthe water from this
reservoir. OldVaddakkachchi is presentlycalled Periyakulam. Due its rich fields with abundance of water the people
are prosperous.In 1996, the Sri Lankan military began its “Sathjeya” operation to capture
Kilinochchi. As the military advanced with shelling and bombing it
destroyed people’s property and several civilians were killed.
On 26.03.1998, at 8.00 am Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets dropped a bomb in the Velikandan area and five bombs fell near the house of Arunasalam Velayutham. Two people working in front of Velayutham’s house, Velayutham’s daughter, who was inside the house and two more people working in the yard, and one person in the house in front were killed. In total 6 people were killed and five were wounded. Velayutham’s home and farm equipment were all destroyed in this bombing.
Arunasalam Vethanayagam says,
“My daughter Mankayatkarasi was killed in the Sri Lankan bombing on 26.03.1998. My home was completely destroyed.”
Velayutham Paramswari says,
“My son was killed on 26.03.1998 by the Sri Lankan military bombing” Selvaratnam Jeyaluxmi says, “My sister was killed on 26.03.1998 by the Sri Lankan military bombing”
Available names of victims (name, occupation, age)
1. Sanmugam Thanapalu, Worker, 55
2. Thiyagarasa Palu, Worker, 50
3. Ramanathan Sellamma, House wife, 56
4. Vellautham Mangayatkarasi, Student, 20
5. Muththaiah Vasanthakumary, House wife, 26
6. Krishnasamy Valliyammai, House wife, 65