The 1990 Displacement of Jaffna Muslims: The Historical Context of R. Premadasa’s Misguided Decisions, the Creation of the Jihad Home Guard, and State-Supported Atrocities Against Tamils – A Historical and Analytical Review of the Tamil Liberation Struggle

Introduction – The Sri Lankan Civil War and the Fragmentation of Tamil Identity

The Sri Lankan Civil War of the 1990s was deeply intertwined with the Tamil people’s struggle for national liberation. In the eastern and northeastern provinces, longstanding coexistence between Tamils and Muslims was disrupted by political machinations and military intelligence operations. These interventions created divisions within communities and paved the way for violent atrocities.

During this period, the systematic attacks on Tamil populations, including massacres and land seizures, were direct consequences of mismanaged state policies and military actions. It was in this context that the Jaffna Muslim population underwent a temporary, protective displacement on October 30, 1990.

This research examines the flawed military-political decisions under then-President R. Premadasa, the atrocities carried out in the Eastern Province, and the factual causes of the Jaffna displacement.

R. Premadasa’s Political Mistakes and the Creation of the Home Guard

In 1990, the Sri Lankan government made critical errors in military and political strategy that significantly undermined Tamil-Muslim relations. During this period, the “Jihad Home Guard” (Muslim Home Guards) was established in Eastern Province. This paramilitary unit was ostensibly meant to protect Muslim communities, but in practice, it was deployed as a counterforce against Tamil populations.

The Arabic word “Jihad” means “to exert oneself fully” or “struggle until victory is achieved”, signifying persistent effort toward a goal. However, this principle was distorted in Eastern Sri Lanka to justify violent targeting of Tamil civilians. Members of the Home Guard, armed and trained by the state, directly participated in atrocities in collaboration with government forces.

Series of Massacres Against Tamils in Eastern Province (1990)

Historical records confirm the following atrocities:

• June 10, 1990 – Sammamthurai Massacre – 7 Tamils
• June 20, 1990 – Veeramunai Massacre – 233 Tamils
• July 20 & 27, 1990 – Sithandy Massacre – 57 Tamils
• July 30, 1990 – Pottuvil Massacre – 110 Tamils
• August 06, 1990 – Thirayakeni Massacre – 50 Tamils
• September 05, 1990 – Eastern University Massacre – 158 Tamils
• August 07, 1990 – Amparai Servier Puram (Adivasi) Massacre – 20 Tamils
• September 09, 1990 – Sathurukkondan Massacre – 184 Tamils
• August 11, 1990 – Kalmunai, Karaithivu Massacre – 62 Tamils
• August 12, 1990 – Veeramunai and Surrounding Villages – 400 Tamils
• August 12, 1990 – Thurai Neelavanai Massacre – 47 Tamils
• August 12, 1990 – Eravur Hospital Massacre – 10 Tamils
• August 14, 1990 – Koravelai Eechayadi Massacre – 15 Tamils
Furthermore, from Amparai to Kathiravelivaram, Tamil villages were encircled, streets and markets were burned, and large-scale civilian massacres were conducted. These events created widespread fear and destruction in the Eastern Province.

The Jaffna Muslim Displacement – A Protective Measure

The continuing violence in the Eastern Province created fears of similar attacks in Jaffna. To ensure the safety of Muslim civilians, a temporary evacuation was advised by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and implemented on October 30, 1990.

• This was not a permanent ethnic cleansing;
• It was a temporary protective measure to prevent loss of life;
• During peaceful periods, displaced Muslims were allowed to return, confirming the displacement as a precautionary strategy rather than a systematic ethnic purge.

State Complicity and International Silence

Some leftist commentators and political opportunists have exaggerated the displacement as “ethnic cleansing”, ignoring the context of mass atrocities against Tamils in the East. International discourse often remains silent on state-supported massacres, yet emphasizes the temporary Jaffna displacement, thereby distorting the historical record of the Tamil liberation struggle.

The Tamil Liberation Struggle and Historical Truth

During the civil war, the LTTE made decisions to temporarily relocate Muslims only to prevent loss of life, in the context of ongoing massacres, land seizures, and destruction of Tamil cultural sites in the East.
This was a protective historical intervention, ensuring minimal casualties while resisting attacks on Tamil populations.

Conclusion – Historical Responsibility and Reconciliation

• The 1990 displacement was a direct consequence of misguided decisions by President R. Premadasa;
• It was a temporary, protective measure, not an act of ethnic cleansing;
• Acknowledgment of historical truth and public reconciliation is essential to foster trust and new cooperation between Tamil and Muslim communities.
•
“The Tamil-Muslim Cooperative Movement must publicly acknowledge and apologize for the atrocities committed in Eastern Province in 1990, including the massacres conducted with state support. Only through such historical accountability can genuine understanding and renewed reconciliation between the two communities be achieved.”

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Written by
Eelaththu Nilavan
07/11/2025
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