The patrol, code named ‘Four Four Bravo’ (44B) was later to be the watershed in the annals of the ethnic conflict that devastated the #SriLanka, Island paradise for nearly 30 years. The LTTE lay in wait for the 15 man patrol at Thirunelvely, the second kilometer post on the Jaffna-Pallali Road. Led by Sellakili they The LTTE leader commemorating Seelan exploded strategically placed mines when the truck and the jeep consisting the patrol approached, and opened fire. Thirteen, an ominous number according to Sri Lankan culture soldiers perished in the attack. Sellakili too perished. Four days later, on July 29, riots once again flared when rumours swirled that Tigers had come to Colombo. The rest of the story history. The riots resulted in the country being dragged into a protracted conflict. Defence expenditure ballooned, Tamils left the country or relocated to Tamil dominated areas. The exodus swelled the cadre among militants and funneled millions in funds. It is the aftermath of the July ’83 riots that has engulfed this country in a bloody war that has taken the lives of over 90,000 people, seriously undermined the tourist market, investor climate and wrought havoc with the economy with the war itself being brought to the heart of the city of Colombo.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 15:03:07 +0000
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