| Madhu church shelling | |
|---|---|
 Location of Sri Lanka | |
| Location | Madhu, Sri Lanka |
| Date | November 20, 1999 (UTC+05:30) |
| Target | Sri Lankan Tamil civilians |
Attack type | Shelling |
| Weapons | Tank or Mortar shells |
| Deaths | 40[1] |
| Injured | 60 |
Madhu church shelling or Madhu church massacre is the name for the shelling of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan civil war on November 20, 1999. The shelling resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 minority Sri Lankan Tamil civilians, including children, and more than 60 non-fatal injuries. The exact cause and nature of the event is disputed between the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government.[2] According to Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the attack was carried out by the LTTE.[3] The church is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics and others. The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island.[2][4][5]
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