VVT Citizens Committee wants compensation for alleged IPKF massacre

The Valvettithurai Citizens' Committee has submitted an appeal to the Office for Reparations, claiming compensation to a massacre that took place in their area in 1989 in attacks allegedly carried out by the Indian Peace keeping Forces (IPKF) stationed in the North during that period.

The massacres  took place  in Valvettithurai between August  2 and 4, 1989 where 66 civilians were killed and 34 others were injured and in addition, homes, shops, fishing boats, vehicles, and industries were destroyed, resulting in the total collapse of livelihoods for hundreds of families.

They claimed that in accordance with verified affidavits and damage assessments, amount to approximately LKR 4.3 billion .(USD 14.6 million)' as of 2025.

They have pointed out that although the perpetrators were foreign troops, the atrocities occurred within the sovereign territory of Sri Lanka, and the victims were Sri Lalkan citizens.Accordingly, the Government of Sri Lanka bears full responsibility to recognise, compensate, and restore justice to its own people who suffered during this tragedy.

N. Aanatharaj, Secretary to Valvettithurai Citizens Committee told the Sunday Times that they had submitted a similar petition to the Indian government demanding compensation for the crimes committed by its forces on Sri Lankan soil in 1990 but no response was given. 

“It was a heinous crime committed by IKPF forces who came to uphold peace. The whole village was turned into a war zone with soldiers going berserk. With justice denied for decades and no formal acknowledgement, we are urging Sri Lanka's Reparations Office to look into the over due matter and provide adequate compensation for the relatives of families who are still struggling to cope up with the loss of their loved ones and resoyrces,” he said.