A new documentary titled Killing the Travellers – Kurukkalmadam Massacre sheds light on one of Sri Lanka’s least known yet most horrific wartime atrocities. Premiered last week in Colombo, it has already sparked widespread national conversation. The film explores the mass killing of hundreds of Muslim civilians – including returning Hajj pilgrims – who were abducted, tortured, and murdered on 12 July 1990 in the eastern town of Kurukkalmadam.
About the Filmmaker
Baazir Kaleelur Rahman is an award-winning filmmaker and rights activist, currently working in the UK. He is the founding director of People’s Rights Group and collaborates with several international organisations on Sri Lankan issues. Baazir has been actively involved in international advocacy and lobbying on various human rights issues for over two decades.
Forgotten Victims of the Civil War
While many atrocities committed during Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war have received national and international attention, the Kurukkalmadam massacre remains largely forgotten. Victims’ bodies were dumped into mass graves, and despite survivor accounts and NGO inquiries, the case was never properly investigated.
According to local reports and witness testimonies featured in the film, hundreds of Muslims disappeared from the Kattankudy area during the same period. The full extent of the violence remains unknown.
In 2014, a Sri Lankan court approved an excavation of the suspected mass grave site in Kurukkalmadam. However, the process was abruptly halted due to political interference and was only reopened in July 2025.
A Call for Justice and Recognition
Activists Without Borders, which has published further background and advocacy material on the massacre, is calling for the Sri Lankan government to officially recognise the Kurukkalmadam massacre as a war crime. The organisation also urges its inclusion in national truth and reconciliation processes.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said a spokesperson from the group. “This film is not only a memorial, it’s a call to action – for accountability, remembrance, and peacebuilding.”
The documentary has already been screened in the USA, UK, Sweden, India, at film festivals, and in various parts of Sri Lanka including Colombo, Kattankudy, and Puttalam, with more screenings and inter-community discussions planned in the coming weeks.
Public Reaction and Global Appeal
Killing the Travellers has drawn strong emotional responses from viewers in Sri Lanka and the diaspora alike. Social media has seen a surge of messages praising the film’s courage and calling on the international community to support justice for the victims.
“This documentary is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit,” wrote one viewer. “It reminds us that true peace begins with truth.”
The film is now freely available to watch on YouTube, with English and Tamil subtitles. International human rights groups are being encouraged to screen the film and amplify the campaign for justice.
For more information on the Kurukkalmadam massacre and the ongoing campaign for justice, visit: https://activistswithoutborders.org.uk/kurukkalmadam-massacre
Watch the full film here: https://youtu.be/2Kq3CGVwPxA
