Neha Patil (Editor)

Riots in Sri Lanka

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Riots in Sri Lanka

Following is a List of riots in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island nation situated in South Asia. It has experienced ethnic tensions between its majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils and Moors populations since 1915 from time to time.

Contents

1900–1950

  • 1915 - 1915 Ceylonese riots, Kandy, Central Province - Riots between Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Moors when a group of Moors attacked a Buddhist pageant with stones, soon spreading across the island.

    • 1950s

  • 1953 - 1953 Ceylonese Hartal, Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces - a nationwide demonstration, a hartal which eventually led to civil unrest.
  • 1956 - 1956 Ceylonese riots, Eastern Province - The first reported ethnic riots that targeted minority Sri Lankan Tamils in Gal Oya, a new settlement in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150.
  • 1958 - 1958 Ceylonese riots, Sri Lanka - 1958 ethnic riots popularly known also as the 58 riots was a watershed event in the race relationship of the various ethnic communities of Sri Lanka. The total number of deaths is estimated to be 300, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils.

    • 1970s

  • 1977 - 1977 Sri Lankan riots, Sri Lanka - Anti-Tamil riots starting on the 12 August 1977, less than a month after the United National Party came to power in 1977. Over 300 Tamils were killed during these riots.

    • 1980s

  • 1981 - Burning of Jaffna library, Jaffna, Northern Province - The destruction of the Jaffna Public Library, with the loss of over 100,000 books, artifacts and palm writings. Four Sri Lankan Tamils were killed.
  • 1981 Riots were carried out by Sinhalese mobs against predominantly Indian Tamils in Ratnapura, Kahawatte and Balangoda areas. Shops were looted and set on fire and many women and girls were raped by marauding mobs
  • 1983 - Black July, Sri Lanka - Ethnic riots Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese where between 400 and 3,000 Sri Lankan Tamil civilians were killed and many more made homeless and refugees.

    • 1990s

  • 1997 - Kalutara prison riots, Kalutara Western Province - Three Tamil detainees were massacred at the Kalutara high security detention center on 12 December 1997.

    • 2000s

  • 2001 - Mawanella Riots, Mawanella, Central Province - Clashes that resulted in the deaths of 2 people and left more than 15 injured and destruction property.
  • 2002 - Beruwala riots, Beruwala, Western Province - In 2002, sectarian clashes sparked between the Wahabbi and the Sunni sects of the Muslim community in Beruwala which left at least 3 dead and over 16 injured during police intervention in the conflict.

    • 2010s

  • 2012 - 2012 Welikada prison riot, Welikada, Western Province - A riot in the Welikada Prison in November 2012 resulted in death of 27 prisoners and 43 injuries.
  • 2014 - 2014 anti-Muslim riots, Kalutara Western Province - Clashes between Sinhalese and Moors resulting in four dead and 80 injured.

    • References

    Riots in Sri Lanka Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics