http://www.spur.asn.au/Aranthalawe_massacre.htm
2 June 2007 - marks the 20th anniversary of the bloody massacre and the brutal mutilation of 33 young monks and their mentor Chief Priest Ven. Hegoda Indrasara at Arantalawa in Ampara, Sri Lanka by the ruthless and bloodthirsty LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists.
A farmer M. H. Kiriappu, 60, weeps as he looks at a photograph at an exhibition in Colombo, of his Buddhist monk son, Ven. Thaligamuwe Uparatane who was killed by LTTE terrorists in Aranthalawa 21 years ago.
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2 June 2007 - marks the 20th anniversary of the bloody massacre and the brutal
mutilation of 33 young monks and their mentor Chief Priest Ven. Hegoda Indrasara at
Arantalawa in Amparai, by the ruthless and bloodthirsty LTTE Tamil Tiger
Terrorists.
The time was 7.15 in the morning of June 2nd 1987. The young monks had just boarded a bus
from the Mahavapi temple with their mentor seated in front and were on their way on a
pilgrimage to Kelaniya temple. Having just passed Nuwaratenna when they reached Arantalawa
the bus driver P. G. Samarapala noticed some wooden logs placed across the road
obstructing their path. Sensing danger the driver began to turn the bus when all of a
sudden a group of about 20 Tiger terrorists clad in commando military fatigues emerged
from the jungle thicket brandishing swords, knives and machine guns. Two Tigers boarded
the bus and gave the driver orders to drive into a jungle path. There was pin drop silence
until they reached a thick growth of teak trees.
"Give us all the money you have', was the order of the Tiger leader. The bus
conductor N.V. Jinadasa surrendered every cent he had. Ven. Indrasara then pleaded
"You'd better kill me but please don't harm these young ones', pointing to the young
pupil monks. Then a thundering voice rent the air, "Wettida" which means cut
them. Instantly a sword fell sharply on the neck of Ven. Indrasara severing it in two.
When the second sword was falling on Ratnayake, a young monk Punjhasara rushed forward and
interceded not to kill his father. Immediately a shot rang out smashing the young monk's
head. Then two terrorists began to cut and chop the young monks and two other Tigers began
shooting all the monks at random. Howls of pain and wailings of misery rent the jungle air
but all pleadings were of no avail.
In fleeting moments the bus was drenched with pools of hot young blood of the samaneras
who were like lambs taken to a slaughter house. Some little monks hid under the seats and
very few were left alive to tell the sad story. When the corpses of the 33 monks was lined
in a row, it was like several buds of yellow Ahala plucked out before they even flower.
Here are some..................., Click LTTE Atrocities for more details
