27th remembrance of the Sri Maha Bodhi massacre by LTTE

Today, May 14, marks the 27th remembrance of the brutal massacre of 146 Buddhist pilgrims by LTTE terrorists at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha-Bodhi at Anuradhapura.

On 14th May, 1985- a Sunday, the entire nation and the Buddhist world were shocked at the news of barbarism displayed by the notorious terrorist outfit-LTTE, at unarmed innocent civilians including the clergy, women and children. As later revealed, the attack was masterminded by the megalomaniac terror chieftain Prabakaran himself, intended at flaming communal hatred and a spree of island wide mob attacks targeting innocent Tamil civilians.

Sri Lankans including Buddhists responded with extreme resilience, as they once did safe guarding their brethren during the 1983 July mob violence. The LTTE terrorists had snatched a public bus on that ill-fated day, stormed the central bus stand at the Anuradhapura old town and splashed those present there with a rain of gunfire indiscriminately.

The terrorists had opened indiscriminate gunfire at both the upper layer (Uda Maluwa) and the lower layer (Pahala Maluwa) killing scores of pilgrims and the clergy. Eighty Five civilians sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Sri Lankans consider the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha to be the symbol of sovereignty, whilst the sacred Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi is believed to safeguard the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

Related Presentation: http://www.defence.lk/pps/LTTEAttrocities.pps