1985 Trincomalee massacres

Since the 1930s, the Sinhalese-dominated state settled Sinhalese in the predominantly Tamil-speaking Eastern Province, claiming to restore lost ancient Sinhalese civilization, as well as to undermine the Tamils' claim to local autonomy. In Trincomalee District, this policy led to its share of the Tamil population being reduced from 64.8% in 1881 to 33.7% by 1981. Trincomalee town known for its harbour was also a strategically important area, contested between Tamils and Sinhalese, with Tamil militants claiming it as the capital of their proposed state of Tamil Eelam. With the start of the Sri Lankan civil war in 1983, Sinhalese settlements came to be part of the military strategy against Tamil militants to destroy the territorial base of Tamil Eelam. By late 1984, thousands of Tamil families in Mullaitivu District and in the northernmost village of Trincomalee were driven out by the army. In early 1985, Sinhalese settlers including in Trincomalee were provided firearms and training which were denied to Tamil farmers. Leading up to the 1985 Trincomalee violence, the army massacred Tamils in Valvettithurai which sparked the LTTE massacre of Sinhalese in Anuradhapura. ==List of attacks==

Following is an incomplete list containing records of only reported and known attacks based on the availability of data. May May 3 On May 3, 50 Tamil people were killed by the Sri Lankan military and Sinhalese mobs in Dehiwatte and Mahindapura. Tamil inhabitants of these villages were ethnically cleansed and Sinhalese settlers took their places. May 23 The Army and the newly inducted Sinhalese home guards commenced attacks on outlying Tamil villages in the Trincomalee District, in Nilaveli on 23 May 1985 and in the Allai settlement scheme south of Mutur the next day. Eight civilians were shot dead by the Military in Nilaveli on 23.05.1985. June June 1 Government forces and Sinhalese mobs burned down 125 houses in Kilivetti, killing 10 Tamils. 8 Tamil men and 5 Tamil women were then taken to Dehiwatte, where the men were executed and the women raped. September The MP for Polonnaruwa H. G. P. Nelson and the MP for Seruvila were reported to have played a leading role in organising further violence against Tamils. 12,000 Sinhalese were armed and transported to Trincomalee for this purpose, many of whom were from the newly formed Sinhala colony of Sirimapura. September 4 The grocery shop of Supar Navaratnam was burned down at 9:10 AM by a mob of 20 armed Sinhalese men who shouted 'Para Demala' (foreign Tamil) and threw grenades and petrol bombs. 50 other Tamil shops in Trincomalee town were also burned down. At Murugapuri, Uppuveli, Sinhalese thugs and homeguards with the help of security forces looted and burned all the homes and shops of Tamils that they had attacked. September 5 Thousands of Tamils in Trincomalee fled their homes in fear as their homes were set ablaze during a curfew imposed by the government. September 12 A Sinhalese mob with the help of armed police burn a Tamil temple in Trincomalee town. ==See also==