Category: Articles

February 4 – 5, 1948: Ceylon’s first day of independence takes a violent turn when Sinhalese are attacked at Pottuvil.

Political consequences following the January 8, 1966 strike against the Tamil language regulations proposed by the government.

January 8, 1966: An opposition-led, one-day strike against the government’s Tamil language regulations turns violent when protesters go on a rampage.

September 1958 – February 1959: Fear grips the government over whispers of a coup being plotted.

October 15-17, 1950: Gal Oya experiences a riot against Muslims after the chief Buddhist monk at Deegavapi is shot dead.

September 9, 1957: Political debate over the Padaviya scheme erupts when Sinhalese allottees in the Western Province are unable to arrive owing to their train being cancelled.

August 25, 1963: An attack on attendees of a Ceylon DMK meeting turns into a riot at Bandarawela.

August 8, 1954: A temporary church structure at Matiyalamulla is burned by a Buddhist mob.

July 1, 1954: A clash between perahera marchers and police near the Pattampitiya mosque results in a fatal police firing and a riot against Muslims.

June 9, 1957: Junior Minister of Labour, Housing, and Social Services M. P. de Zoysa is blocked by youths at Jaffna as he attempts to attend a Minority Tamil conference.