Aranthalawa Massacre The Aranthalawa Massacre was the massacre of 33 Buddhist monks , most of them young novice monks , and four civilians by cadres of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization ( the LTTE , commonly known as the Tamil Tigers ) on June 2 , 1987 close to the village of Aranthalawa , in the Amparadistrict of Eastern Sri Lanka . The massacre is considered one of the most notorious and devastating atrocities committed by the LTTE during the history of the Sri Lankan Civil War , and continues to be commemorated 20 years on . The massacre . The Aranthalawa Massacre took place on June 2 , 1987 , when a bus carrying Buddhist monks and a few unarmed civilians was ambushed by 20 < ref name = ' so - 6 / 3 / 07 - atwe ' > < / ref > armed LTTE cadres near the village of Nuwerathanne . < ref name = " SO - 5 / 20 / 07 - atw " > < / ref > < ref name = ' st - 15 / 10 / 96 - atw ' > < / ref > They then ordered the driver of the bus , which was carrying the monks on a pilgrimage from their temple in Mahavapi to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara , to drive into the nearby Aranthalawa jungle . After the bus stopped , the LTTE cadres went on a rampage , attacking the monks with guns and sword s < ref name = ' MoD - 7 / 10 / 06 - atw ' > < / ref > and also shooting some of them with machine guns . Among the dead were 30 young novice monks and their mentor , the Chief Priest of the Vidyananda Maha Pirivena , Hegoda Sri Indrasara Thera . Four civilians who were traveling in the bus were also among the dead . < ref name = " ’ DN - 2 / 15 / 07 - atw ’ " > < / ref > Three monks who escaped the massacre sustaining critical injuries continue to require medical assistance . Another monk was permanently disabled . < ref name = ' DN - 5 / 24 / 07 - atw ' > < / ref > Motives . This and similar attacks against Sinhalese civilians are carried out by the LTTE to antagonize the Sinhalese majority against the Tamil populace of the country , thereby creating rivalry between the two main ethnic groups of Sri Lanka . The LTTE hoped such animosity between the two races would result in attacks by Sinhalese against Tamil civilians , which would increase support and funding towards their violent campaign . < ref name = ' dv - 6 / 2 / 00 - atw ' > < / ref > Reaction . Theravada monks are incapable of defending themselves . The harming of monk is considered to be one of the highest offenses in Theravada Buddhism or even among Hindu . The massacre is considered to be one of the most brutal attacks carried out during the conflict in Sri Lanka . < ref name = ' DN - 5 / 24 / 07 - atw2 ' > < / ref > Each year Aranthalawa Massacre is commemorated by a series of special programs . < ref name = ' govnews - 6 / 23 / 07 - atw ' > < / ref > In 2007 , to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the massacre , commemorations were held over the course of four days in Colombo and Ampara , with the main ceremony led by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking place in Colombo with the participation of the Mahanayake Theras of all Chapters . An all night Pirith ceremony was held on the same night , and a Sanghika Dāna was offered to 200 Buddhist monks on June 3 . An exhibition of over 300 photographs of LTTE attacks on Buddhist sites and other acts of destruction was also organized . A plaque has since been constructed close to the site of the incident to commemorate the massacre . Similar attacks . Throughout the course of the conflict in Sri Lanka , the LTTE has carried out a number of similar attacks against Buddhist sites . These include