The following is a list of chronological attacks attributed to the LTTE in 1980s during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The deadliest single attack for the decade was the Anuradhapura massacre in 1985.
Attacks in chronological order 1983 Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources July 23 Four Four Bravo: 13 soldiers are killed in an LTTE ambush in Jaffna, sparking anti-Tamil riots that cause the death of approximately 4000 Tamils across Sri Lanka during four days, in what would be later labelled as Black July. Jaffna, Jaffna District1313
1984 1984 marked the intensification of the war between the Tamil separatists and the Sri Lankan government, as well as the first reports of civilian massacres by the LTTE.
Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources November 11 Dollar Farm massacre: 33 civilians which included women and children were attacked in Dollar Farm village in the night by an armed group made up of LTTE cadres.Mullaitivu District33 33LTTE Atrocities, Year 1984, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka November 30 Kent Farm massacre: Following the attack on the Dollar Farm village, a second night raid was launched by the LTTE cadres which targeted the Kent Farm village, 29 civilians including women and children were massacred. They also looted and set fire on to victims houses.Mullaitivu District29 29 December 1 Kokilai massacre: LTTE cadres kill eleven Sinhalese civilians in the fishing village of Kokilai.Kokkilai, Mullaitivu District 11 11 December 31 LTTE members kill 4 Tamil civilians and dump them outside of Batticaloa for refusing to fight for the group. Altogether 30 Tamil civilians were killed for similar reasons in 1984.Batticaloa, Batticaloa District 30 30
1985 1985 marked a major escalation of hostilities. For the first time the LTTE attacked a major Sinhalese majority town killing 146 unarmed civilians. The impact of this attack was felt across the island and received worldwide attention. Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources May 5 Wilpattu Village Massacre: Wilpattu, a Sinhalese village in Anuradhapura District, was the target of a raid of an armed group of LTTE cadres, who killed 18 villagers that included women and children. Wilpattu, Anuradhapura District18 18LTTE Atrocities, Year 1985, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka May 14 Anuradhapura massacre: LTTE gunmen shoot dead 146 Sinhalese civilians and injure 85 others as they were praying at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred Buddhist shrine in Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura District146 146 May 14 LTTE cadres shoot dead 18 Sinhalese civilians in the Wilpattu National Park while they are fleeing from the massacre of 146 civilians earlier in the day (see Anuradhapura massacre).Wilpattu National Park, Anuradhapura District18 18 May 30 LTTE cadres shoot and kill five Sinhalese civilians in the villages of Mahandapura and Dehiwatta. People of these villages had previously received numerous threats from the LTTE associates. This massacre was part of a series of massacres aimed at displacing Sinhalese from the North East of Sri Lanka.Mahandapura and Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District5 5Gunasekara, S.L. (November 4, 2003). The Wages of Sin, June 4 Dehiwatta Village Massacre: Armed with sharp weapons over 100 LTTE cadres killed 15 villagers on their sleeping mats in the village of Dehiwatta. Victims included women and children, which were the majority killed.Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District15 15 June 11 13 Sinhalese civilians are shot dead by LTTE gunmen in Dehiwatta.Dehiwatta, Polonnaruwa District13 13 August 2 LTTE cadres shot dead three Sinhalese Buddhist monks and three civilians, while they were worshipping at the Ruhunu Somavathiya Temple.Thrikonamadu, Polonnaruwa District6 6 August 14 Aranthalawa Village Massacre: Seven Sinhalese villagers were tortured and killed at Aranthalawa. They were targeted by an armed group of LTTE cadres. Aranthalawa, Ampara District7 7 August 18 Namalwatta Village Massacre I: A group of LTTE cadres armed with sharp weapons hacked 7 villagers.Namalwatta, Trincomalee District7 7 November 7 Namalwatta Village Massacre II: Ten villagers, including women and children were raided and executed at Namalwatta for the second time.Namalwatta, Trincomalee District10 10 December 20 Six Madhu pilgrims, abducted by the LTTE on 12/12/85 were executed.Mannar, Mannar District 6
1986 Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources February 2 Kantale Village massacre: Armed with small arms and swords LTTE cadres raided the village of Kantalai killing 19 civilians.Kantalai, Trincomalee District 19LTTE Atrocities, Year 1986, Ministry of Defence, Government of Sri Lanka February 19 When refugees from Serunuwara, Dehiwatta were being escorted by army personnel along Ella/Kantalai road, LTTE exploded a mine killing 35 civilians and four army personnel.Sittaru Kantalai, Trincomalee District 39 May 3 Air Lanka Flight 512: LTTE bomb explodes aboard Air Lanka flight carrying mainly French, British and Japanese tourists killing 21 (including 13 foreigners - of whom 3 British, 2 German, 3 French, 2 Japanese, 1 Maldivian and 1 Pakistani) and injuring 41 on Bandaranaike International Airport.Katunayake, Western Province 21 May 5 Kinniya Village massacre: Four Moor civilians were tortured and killed by a group of LTTE cadres.Kinniya, Trincomalee District 44 May 6 Central Telegraph Office Bombing: The Central Telegraph Office, Colombo was the target on a bomb detonated by the LTTE cadres which killed 14 civilians who were at the office.Colombo 14 May 25 Mahadivulwewa Village massacre: An armed group of LTTE cadres killed 20 Sinhalese by shooting them dead and set alight 20 houses.Mahadivulwewa, Anuradhapura District20 20 June 2 Trincomalee 3rd Mile post massacre: Civilian homes at the 3rd mile post, Trincomalee were stormed by a group of armed LTTE cadres who killed 10 civilians, including women and childrenTrincomalee 10 June 4 Andankulam Village massacre: 17–20 civilians, including Ven. Bakamune Subaddalanakara Thero, were attacked, tortured and killed by LTTE cadres in the village of Andankulam.Andankulam, Trincomalee District17–20 17–20 June 11 22 people were killed and another 75 others were injured when two bombs were detonated simultaneously by the LTTE on two buses heading to Kantalai and Colombo respectively. The first bus was front of the Bank of Ceylon Trincomalee branch and the other in close proximity to the SP office.Trincomalee, Trincomalee District 22 June 21 Wilgamwehera Village massacre: 9 civilians, including children, were murdered in the Wilgamwehera hamlet by LTTE cadres.Wilgamwehera, Trincomalee District 9 June 25 Bomb exploded in a vehicle by LTTE killed 16 Sinhalese.Sittaru, Kantalai, Trincomalee District16 16 July 8 Monkey Bridge Village massacre: 15 Sinhalese villagers were shot to death by LTTE cadres.Monkey Bridge, Trincomalee District15 15 July 9 Mollipothana Village massacre: Mullipothana village was stormed at night by a group of armed LTTE cadres who killed 16 civilians most of them being women and children. Mullipothana, Trincomalee District 16 July 13 Pavakkulam Village massacre: Nine Tamil and two Sinhalese villages were killed by four LTTE cadres who had arrived in a jeep to tract No. 16, Pavakkulam.Pavakkulam, Trincomalee District29 11 July 19 Beruwil & Wadigawewa Village massacre: The villages of Beruwil and Waigawewa were stormed by large armed group of LTTE cadres numbering over 100, killing 17 villagers including women and children, as well as causing serious cut wounds to at least 5 others.Beruwil & Wilgamwehera, Trincomalee District 17 July 19 LTTE cadres shot dead twelve Sinhalese villagers.Wadigawewa, North Central Province12 12 July 22 LTTE cadres exploded a land-mine on a civilian bus, killing 32 Sinhalese civilians and injuring 20 others.Mammaduwa, Vavuniya District32 32 July 24 A bomb exploded inside a bus proceeding from Vavuniya to Anuradhapura; killing 13 passengers and injuring 40 others. 13 July 24 About 50 LTTE cadres entered Damana, a Sinhalese village, and killed nine persons; another 13 were injured.Damana, Central Province 9 September 17 Kantalai massacre: LTTE cadres entered block No.4 of the Sugar Corporation, Kantalai and ten civilians were shot to death.Kantalai, Trincomalee District71210 September 17 Wadigawewa Village massacre: Following the Kantalai massacre, the village of Wadigawewa was attacked by the same group of LTTE cadres who killed 12 villagers including women and children.Wadigawewa, Trincomalee District 12
1987