Articles
May Day 1965 Riot
May 1, 1965: Violence breaks out on May Day 1965, resulting in damage to several businesses and the death of an SLFP member.
Wilpattu Deer Shooting
March 18, 1957: An illicit shooting of a deer by King Mahendra of Nepal at Wilpattu results in Buddhist uproar.
Monte Cristo Estate Police Shooting
December 4, 1959: Labour and communal troubles on Monte Cristo estate culminate in a police firing that kills three Malaiyaha Tamil workers.
Lunuwila Mills Police Shooting
September 5, 1956: A strike at Lunuwila Mills turns violent and a striker is shot dead by police.
1952 Gal Oya Riot
August 21-25, 1952: A lorry accident in Gal Oya results in clashes between Sinhalese and Muslims in the area.
St. Margaret’s Bazaar Police Shooting
July 13, 1957: Tensions between Sinhalese and Tamil traders at St. Margaret’s Bazaar, Udapussellawa, results in two Malaiyaha Tamils being shot dead by police.
Veeramunai Riot
April 18, 1954: A drunken Tamil New Year brawl morphs into a full-fledged riot leading to the displacement of hundreds of Tamils and tensions that simmer for decades after.
Ethnic Violence in the Trincomalee District in February 1956: Part II
The riots at Trincomalee in February 1956 becoming an enduring topic of political invocation in following months.
Ethnic Violence in the Trincomalee District in February 1956: Part I
February 5 – 28, 1956: Violence between Sinhalese and Tamils in the Trincomalee District flares over the language issue.
Independence Day Attack on Sinhalese
February 4 – 5, 1948: Ceylon’s first day of independence takes a violent turn when Sinhalese are attacked at Pottuvil.
January 8, 1966 Strike – Part I
January 8, 1966: An opposition-led, one-day strike against the government’s Tamil language regulations turns violent when protesters go on a rampage.
January 8, 1966 Strike – Part II
Political consequences following the January 8, 1966 strike against the Tamil language regulations proposed by the government.
1958 Coup Scare
September 1958 – February 1959: Fear grips the government over whispers of a coup being plotted.
1950 Gal Oya Riot
October 15-17, 1950: Gal Oya experiences a riot against Muslims after the chief Buddhist monk at Deegavapi is shot dead.
Padaviya Tangle
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.
Bandarawela Riot
August 25, 1963: An attack on attendees of a Ceylon DMK meeting turns into a riot at Bandarawela.
Matiyalamulla Church Site Burning
August 8, 1954: A temporary church structure at Matiyalamulla is burned by a Buddhist mob.
Pattampitiya Police Shooting and Riot
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.
Ministerial Visits to the North and East in June 1957 – Part III: Jaffna
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.
Ministerial Visits to the North and East in June 1957 – Part II: Kalmunai
June 6, 1957: Education Minister Wijayananda Dahanayake is mobbed by Tamil demonstrators as he visits Sinhalese and Muslims at Kalmunai.
Ministerial Visits to the North and East in June 1957 – Part I: Mannar
June 1, 1957: A ministerial visit to Mannar turns violent when Federal Party demonstrators arrive.
Mannar Police Station Shooting
May 1, 1957: A man is fatally shot at the Mannar police station following a clash between a crowd and police.
Bogawantalawa Riot
April 2-4, 1958: A police firing on Malaiyaha Tamil labourers at Bogawantalawa results in a riot against Sinhalese.