The airstrike on the Chencholai school occurred during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had been ongoing since the early 1980s between the government and the LTTE, a militant organization seeking an independent Tamil Eelam. On August 14, 2006, as residents carried out daily activities, the Sri Lankan Air Force erroneously bombed a school where girls were taking a break amid escalating military operations against the LTTE. Reports indicated that the schoolgirls were not combatants, and the strike drew international condemnation and accusations of human rights violations against the Sri Lankan government. The community was left to grapple with the sudden and devastating loss of so many young lives, showcasing the conflict’s dire impact on civilians.

In the aftermath, the government insisted that the strike was a mistake, claiming intelligence indicated the presence of LTTE combatants in the area. However, villagers disputed this justification, maintaining that the school was a designated safe zone. Human rights organizations and various governments around the world condemned the incident, pushing for investigations into the military's conduct and calling for measures to protect civilians in conflict zones. Memorials were held for the victims, highlighting the human cost of war and the need for accountability.

The Chencholai bombing stands as a stark reminder of the civilian toll in armed conflicts, particularly in areas where military operations intersect with civilian life. The incident spurred discussions on the ethics of warfare, the protection of non-combatants, and the obligations of governments to prevent such tragedies. The event remains etched in the collective memory of those affected, symbolizing the brutality of conflict and its long-lasting repercussions on communities.