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May 10 in Mullivaikkal
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On May 10, reports described one of the most intense periods of violence in the final phase of the conflict, alongside increasing international reporting, political statements, and satellite evidence documenting widespread destruction.
Multiple sources reported large-scale civilian casualties due to sustained shelling of the No Fire Zone. TamilNet stated that as many as 2,000 civilians may have been killed during a single day of artillery bombardment by the Sri Lankan military. Rescue workers reportedly recovered at least 1,200 bodies, with concerns that many more remained undiscovered. Additional descriptions noted bodies found in bunkers and temporary shelters, with widespread destruction of civilian structures.
The United States State Department cited local sources describing heavy shelling across densely populated areas, with houses and civilian shelters set on fire. One source estimated approximately 1,000 killed and another 1,000 injured, while Embassy Colombo reported at least 300 civilian deaths. The reports also described bodies along beaches and roadsides, with many victims believed to have been buried in bunkers or unable to reach medical facilities. A leaked US embassy cable further stated that the Sri Lankan Air Force conducted an airstrike south of the civilian safe zone on May 10, which it assessed as violating prior government commitments to halt heavy weapons and aerial bombardment.
The LTTE issued a statement condemning the attacks, claiming that more than 2,000 civilians had been killed in 24 hours due to shelling and airstrikes on the “Safe Zone.” The statement described the situation as “state terrorism” and a war crime, and criticised the United Nations and international community for failing to protect civilians. It also stated that humanitarian organisations were being denied access to the conflict area, worsening civilian suffering.
During this period, Sri Lankan authorities deported three British journalists from Channel 4 News. Journalist Nick Paton Walsh reported that the deportation followed accusations of misconduct by the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after which their visas were cancelled and they were ordered to leave the country.
In India, political developments also reflected concern over the conflict. Sonia Gandhi, then president of the Indian National Congress, stated during a visit to Tamil Nadu that efforts had been made to end hostilities and that civilians had been moved to safer locations. She also reaffirmed support for Tamil rights within the framework of the Indo–Sri Lanka Accord.
Satellite analysis conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in collaboration with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, documented extensive evidence of destruction between May 6 and May 10. The imagery showed bomb craters, destroyed structures, mortar positions, and approximately 1,346 individual graves. Analysts also noted burn patterns consistent with military explosive impact, raising concerns about the nature of the bombardment.
Additionally, Catholic priest Father Francis Joseph wrote to the Pope from inside the conflict zone, describing the scale of destruction and civilian deaths. He estimated that thousands had been killed in overnight attacks involving artillery, mortars, cluster munitions, and multi-barrel shelling. His letter described extreme suffering among civilians and characterised the situation as a “genocidal war,” calling for urgent intervention from the international community and religious institutions.
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