The 31st remembrance of the bombing of St. Peter’s Church in Navaly, Jaffna, in which more than 147 civilians lost their lives, was solemnly commemorated on July 9.
The event was organised by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jeyaranjan.
Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vimalasekaran Vasanthan, Parish Priest of the Kattaikadu–Vettilaikeni Parish. This was followed by a floral tribute and a remembrance ceremony at the memorial monument dedicated to the victims.
The bombing took place in 1995, during the Sri Lankan military offensive in the Valikamam region. As thousands of civilians fled the fighting and sought refuge in schools and churches, many took shelter at St. Peter’s Church in Navaly and its surrounding area. The church compound was subsequently subjected to an aerial bombardment by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The attack claimed the lives of more than 147 civilians, including women and children, while more than 400 others were seriously injured. It remains one of the deadliest attacks on civilians during the conflict.
