It is 36 years now since the Aranthalawa bhikkhu massacre took place. The bhikkhu massacre that took place on June 2, 1987 will forever be etched in the memories of the people of Sri Lanka as a day of tragedy and sorrow that shook the nation to its core.
Bhikkhus faced this tragedy while they were on their way from the Mahavapi temple to Kelaniya on a pilgrimage under the guidance of Ven. Hegoda Indasara Thera, Chief Adikarana Sanganayake of the Northern and the Eastern Provinces.
The massacre is considered one of the most heinous crimes committed by the LTTE terrorists.
Religious ceremonies
Head of the Aranthalawa Indasara International Buddhist Centre Ven.Kirindiwela Somarathana Thera said that religious ceremonies are held annually on June 2 to commemorate the dead.
Ven. Hegoda Indasara Nayaka Thera, 30 novice bhikkhus between 9 years and 24 years, the driver and the conductor of the bus were among the dead. Eleven Bhikkhus had escaped death with critical injuries and three bhikkhus are living with medical aid and another bhikkhu is permanently disabled.
Ven. Rideemaliyedde Indusumana Thera, (then a novice bhikkhu) one of the escapees related the incident.
He said, “In the early morning of June 2, 1987, we woke up at 4.00 before the sun rose. We were at Mahavapi Vihara.
The morning started with our usual religious activities in the Bo-maluwa which included the daily commitments. After our morning meal, Ven. Hegoda Indasara Nayaka Thera ushered us to the Maluwa to complete our religious activities before the trip.
Kandy through Mahaoya
Ven. Indusumana thera said, “At 5.45 a.m., the Ampara Depot bus bearing No. 60 Sri 3599 left the temple with 43 bhikkhus of whom 30 were novice bhikkhus and four lay persons. First we wanted to go to Kandy through Mahaoya and Mahiyangana. The bus was reaching Aranthalawa. At once the bus was stopped by two persons in Army uniforms.” “One of them ordered the bus driver to turn the bus into the jungle. Then another 15 armed persons got into the bus and started attacking us with swords. They also shot us with machine guns. With a gunshot I fell. I became unconscious. After about one hour, Army personnel came and took us to the hospital.”
In 2013, a memorial museum was built at the location using the same bus in which these monks were travelling by an artist. The gruesome last minutes of these novice bhikkhus had been re-created in the bus and is open to the public.