53 corpses of inmates buried inside three pits in Kanaththa – Eye witness

Jan 20, 2016

A security officer of the Borella Kanaththa Anis Thuwan revealed that Kuttimany, Thangadurai, Jegan and 53 other Tamil inmates who were killed inside the Welikada prison in 1983 was buried inside the Kanatta cemetery inside two large pits.

Anis Thuwan who was an employee of the Colombo Municipal Council in 1980 has been working in the Borella cemetery as a security guard. Following the ethnic riots in end of July in 1983, Sri Lankan army has brought 53 corpses to the Borella cemetery and buried.
 
“The last week in July 1983 one night a group of Sri Lanka army soldiers was digging two large pits 10’ length, width and deep inside the Borella cemetery using backhoe machines. Following that two army trucks came inside and when I climbed and see I saw 35 dead bodies of males. The army dumped the dead bodies to the pit. It is learnt that those dead bodies would be the corpses of Kuttimani and other Tamil inmates. The place is currently used as a car park of the Devi Balika School.
 
When this incident was occurred a manager of the Borella cemetery immediately called the mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council and the mayor instructed the manager to allow the army to complete their work. On the next day another 18 dead bodies were dumped inside another pit behind the Kanatta which the dates are not sure” said Anis Thuwan.
 
On July 25th and 26th 1983, 53 Tamil inmates were murdered inside the Welikada prison. Among the killed trained combatants such as Kuttimani, Thangadurai and Jegan were believed to be amongst. Before this in February 1983 the courts sentenced them to death.
 
1in 1983 July 23rd following the killing of 13 Sri Lankan army soldiers by the tigers the first attack of the Tamil inmates within the Welikada prison came under target on early hours of July 25th. Later 35 dead bodies of Tamil inmates were found. The bodies were buried at the Borella Kanatta without informing their relatives