Old Vaddakachchi is an ancient village in the Kilinochchi district. The largest water reservoir in the region, the Iranaimadhu water reservoir, is in this village. The rice fields in this village are able to produce twice a year using the water from this reservoir. Old Vaddakachchi is presently called Periyakulam. Due its rich fields with abundance of water the people are prosperous.

In 1996, the Sri Lankan military began its “Sathjeya” operation to capture Kilinochchi. As the military advanced with shelling and bombing it destroyed people’s property and several civilians were killed.

On 26.03.1998, at 8.00 am Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets dropped a bomb in the Velikandan area and five bombs fell near the house of Arunasalam Velayutham. Two people working in front of Velayutham’s house, Velayutham’s daughter, who was inside the house and two more people working in the yard, and one person in the house in front were killed. In total 6 people were killed and five were wounded. Velayutham’s home and farm equipment were all destroyed in this bombing.

Arunasalam Vethanayagam says,
“My daughter Mankayatkarasi was killed in the Sri Lankan bombing on 26.03.1998. My home was completely destroyed.”

Velayutham Paramswari says,
“My son was killed on 26.03.1998 by the Sri Lankan military bombing”.

Selvaratnam Jeyaluxmi says,
“My sister was killed on 26.03.1998 by the Sri Lankan military bombing”.