Following the election of the United National Party in Sri Lanka, riots erupted against the Tamil minority, leading to significant loss of life and property. The tensions stemmed from decades of ethnic discrimination by the Sinhalese majority against the Tamil population, who felt marginalized and oppressed. These tensions became particularly pronounced as the UNP, led by J.R. Jayewardene, took power and implemented policies that were perceived to further alienate Tamils, including promoting the Sinhalese language and culture over Tamil identity.

The violence began in early December when anti-Tamil sentiment ignited across several urban centers. Mobs took to the streets, targeting Tamil homes, businesses, and places of worship. Reports indicated that over 300 Tamils were killed, and thousands more displaced as families were forced to flee their homes. Police and government authorities often stood by during the attacks, either unable or unwilling to intervene.

In the aftermath of the riots, many Tamils viewed themselves as a besieged community, leading to a surge in support for militant groups advocating for Tamil rights and autonomy. This unrest contributed to the eventual rise of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), a separatist militant organization, and marked a significant escalation in the ethnic conflict that would follow throughout the 1980s and into the civil war that erupted in the late 1980s. The turmoil during this period had profound implications for Sri Lanka’s political landscape, as it shifted public opinion towards demands for greater autonomy for the Tamil population.