1983 anti-Tamil pogrom in Trincomalee

Since the 1930s, the Sinhalese-dominated government settled Sinhalese in the predominantly Tamil-speaking Eastern Province, claiming to restore what they saw as lost ancient Sinhala settlements, Sinhalisation of Trincomalee was seen as the key to sundering the contiguity of Tamil habitations in the North and East. Tamil nationalists viewed this as an attempt to alter the demographics of their 'traditional Tamil homeland', thus weakening the Tamils' stake in it. ==Pogrom==

The violence began in the first week of June and often occurred during curfew hours, where the security forces would provide 'security' to attacking Sinhalese mobs, whilst also shooting the Tamil victims who fled the scene of attacks for breaking the curfew. By the close of the violence on August 10, A. Amirthalingam recounted the events of the last 2 months in a further letter addressed to J. R. Jayewardene. He stated that the Black July pogrom against Tamils "did not break out suddenly" as a result of the killing of 13 soldiers in Jaffna on July 23, but was "actually started on a planned basis" which began with the attacks on Tamils in Trincomalee on June 3. He further stated that this violence in Trincomalee went on with "ebb and flow for over two months" and that "27 Tamils have been killed during this period as against one Sinhalese". He further detailed the role of the security forces in the violence: {{Blockquote ==Timeline of events in June==

The following is a list of events recorded in June. 2nd June Organised Sinhalese fishermen attacked Tamil fisherman and burnt their boats. Tamils blamed the armed forces for instigating the violence. The following day Sinhalese fishermen at Samudrapura were overheard talking about “breaking of heads” and “teaching Tamils a lesson”. 3rd June In Trincomalee town, an attempt was made to petrol bomb Yal Cafe. 5th June In Villangkulam, 8 Tamil houses were set ablaze. In Pankulam, N.Sriskandarasa was murdered and the Ganesha Temple was set ablaze. Several Tamil houses were also bombed. 13th June At central road, bombs were thrown at 4 Tamil shops, leaving the shops damaged and 4 people injured. At main street, a furniture shop was bombed. At China bay, employees at the Prima Factory were attacked, leaving 5 injured. At Pankulam, the house of one Gunapala was set ablaze. 21st June At Thoduvapillaiyar, 6 Tamil houses were burnt. At Koviladdy, another 6 Tamil houses were burnt. 22nd June At Singanagar, 3 Tamil houses were burnt. 24th June At Trincomalee Town, the houses of Mendis and Wilson were bombed. At Sivayogapuram, two Tamil house were burnt. 25th June At Sivayogapuram, 30 Tamil houses were burnt. 26th June At Trincomalee town, the Nescafe Hotel was bombed. 27th June At Kithul Ootrue, a Tamil minibus was burnt and the 17 Tamil passengers attacked. Several sustained gun shot injuries and were admitted to hospital. 2 Hindu temples were also set ablaze in the area, and Thirunavukarasu, Seetha and Usha were hacked and burnt to death. At Uppuveli, Alvarpillai and Ramanan were hacked to death. Alvarpillai's wife and 3 other children also suffered cut injuries and were hospitalised. At Anuradhapura Junction, 10 Tamil shops and 2 Sinhalese shops were burnt. At central road, Rajamani stores was bombed. 28th June At a Thirukkadaloor temple, the Navy apprehended three Indian tourists, Sabaratnam, Kahrass and Amirthalingam. They were then handed over to an armed mob who brutally hacked them, leaving them bleeding on the road. Sabaratnam died at the scene while the other two were eventually hospitalised. At Uppuveli, the Golden Sands Beach Hotel and Restaurant was set ablaze. At Panmathavachchi, a Hindu temple was burnt. 29th June At Pankulam, 9 Tamil house were burnt and Rajagopal, Thavamani and another person were murdered. At Palaioottru, 30 Tamil houses were burnt. 30th June At Nachchikulam, 30 Tamil houses were burnt. At China bay, close to the Air Force quarters, 32 Tamil houses and a Catholic ashram were burnt. Two Tamils, Santhirarasa and Selvarasa, were hacked to death. At Vilveri, 30 Tamil houses were burnt. At Paraiyankulam, Vadivel, Chinniah, Poopayee and Valliammah were murdered, while 4 others between the ages of 7-80 sustained injuries and were hospitalised. 27 houses were also destroyed there. At central road, the Kalai Magal shop was set ablaze. ==See also==