Mandaitivu

Jaffna

Mandaitivu (Tamil: மண்டைதீவு, romanized: Maṇṭaitīvu; Sinhala: මන්ඩතිව් Manḍativ) is an island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of the city of Jaffna. The island has an area of 7.56 square kilometres (2.92 sq mi) and is divided into three village officer divisions (Mandaitivu East, Mandaitivu South, and Mandaitivu West), whose combined population was 1,524 at the 2012 census.[1][2] Mandaitivu is an islet situated off the Jaffna peninsula and is connected to the city of Jaffna by means of a causeway. On 10 June 1986, Sri Lankan Navy personnel clad in black clothes approached a group of fishermen who were in the sea. The fishermen raised their hands to show they were civilians. The Navy however began to attack the fishermen and destroying their boats and nets. All of the fishermen were tortured and brutally murdered. The eyes of some fishermen were gouged out. Stomachs of some fishermen were cut open. In all 32 fishermen from Gurunagar and one from Mandaitivu village were killed by the Navy.[2] Semon Mariyathas (41), the only fisherman who escaped death in the massacre is still alive.[1] The fishermen who were massacred were aged between 13 and 62. According to the medical evidence led at the inquest, all the fishermen had died of multiple injuries to various parts of their anatomy due to machine gunfire.[3]

Opening hours

8:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Entry fee

Local Visitors

• AdultLKR 500
• ChildLKR 250
• Senior CitizenLKR 500

Foreign Visitors

• AdultLKR 1,500
• ChildLKR 1,000
• Senior CitizenLKR 1,500