Execution-style mass murder of unarmed police officers was carried out by the militant organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka on 11 June 1990.
Members of the LTTE are alleged to have killed over 600[1] unarmed Sri Lanka Police officers in Eastern Province on that day.
President Premadasa's initial intention was to work out a peace plan with the LTTE, which was waging a bloody separatist campaign in the country's north and east.
In an attempt to win over its leadership, Premadasa transferred a large quantity of weapons to the organization (at their request), to fight against the IPKF.
A Sri Lankan government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed held peace talks with the LTTE.
Although the talks seemed successful at the initial stages, no agreement was made on critical issues like the dissolution of the Northeast Provincial Council and repealing of the Sixth Amendment to the constitution.
The situation worsened after Sri Lankan Minister of Defence Ranjan Wijeratne asked the LTTE to lay down arms.
[dubious – discuss] On 7 June 1990, a vehicle carrying Army personnel from Vavuniya to Mullaitivu was fired at by the LTTE.
[citation needed] LTTE ordered all police stations in Eastern Province to be vacated by 2:30 p.m. or face the consequences.
ASP Ivan Boteju, who was the OIC of Kalmunai police station, refused to surrender and kept on fighting with the LTTE from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
[7] Sri Lanka's chief peace negotiator Minister Shahul Hameed's attempts to rescue the officers in detention went in vain.
[9] As a result of the LTTE attacks, the Army had to abandon camps including Kokavil, Mankulam, Killinochchi, Kondachchi and Silavathurai.
According to Major General Sarath Munasinghe's book A Soldiers Version, the LTTE radio operator [Jude] had a message from Prabhakaran: "Whatever happens, ensure that the money offered is brought with you".