In the early 1990s, when the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled the Valikamam region of Jaffna peninsula, they built a thuyilum illam (resting place) for their maaveerar (great heroes) in Kopay.

After the Sri Lankan military recaptured Valikamam in 1995 they destroyed the LTTE cemetery using tractors.

[1][2][3] After the Norwegian mediated peace process began in 2002 the LTTE started rebuilding their war cemeteries including that at Kopay.

[4] In July 2010 the Sri Lankan military destroyed Kopay war cemetery.

[6] The Sri Lankan military then started building an army base on the site of the cemetery.