Historical Events tagged with "sinhalese"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Politics & Government

Massacre of ACF Employees in Sri Lanka

August 4th, 2006 18 years ago

Seventeen employees of the French NGO Action Against Hunger were killed by Sri Lankan government forces in the Vaharai region. These individuals were engaged in humanitarian efforts during the ongoing conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The incident raised significant concerns regarding the safety of NGO workers and the impact of the civil conflict on humanitarian operations.

Continue Reading
Military & Warfare

Civilians Killed in Mannar by Sri Lankan Army

December 4th, 1984 40 years ago

In Mannar, Sri Lankan Army soldiers were implicated in the deaths of 107 to 150 civilians amidst ongoing conflict. The incident contributed to international scrutiny and criticism of the Sri Lankan government's military tactics against the Tamil population during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had been intensifying since the early 1980s due to ethnic tensions and separatist aspirations.

Continue Reading
Crime & Law

Massacre of Tamil Political Prisoners

July 27th, 1983 41 years ago

Eighteen Tamil political prisoners were killed by Sinhalese prisoners at the Welikada high-security prison in Colombo. This massacre was part of a violent crackdown during a period of ethnic tension in Sri Lanka, which was exacerbated by the ongoing civil conflict. The attack occurred just two days after an earlier massacre, highlighting the deep-seated animosity and the climate of fear within the prison system. The event underscored the precarious situation for Tamils in the country amid escalating violence.

Continue Reading
Military & Warfare

Beginning of the Black July Anti-Tamil Riots

July 24th, 1983 41 years ago

The Black July riots erupted in Sri Lanka as a violent response to the killing of 13 Sri Lankan soldiers in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Jaffna. Leading to widespread anti-Tamil violence across the island, the riots saw Sinhala mobs attack Tamil homes and businesses, resulting in deaths, injuries, and the displacement of thousands of Tamils. The death toll estimates range from 400 to 3,000 individuals, marking a significant escalation in ethnic tensions as the civil conflict intensified.

Continue Reading
Politics & Government

Assassination of Alfred Duraiappah

July 27th, 1975 49 years ago

Alfred Duraiappah, the Mayor of Jaffna and former Member of Parliament, was shot dead in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The assassination occurred amid rising ethnic tensions and political instability in the region. Duraiappah was a prominent figure in the Tamil community and his death sent shockwaves through local and national political circles.

Continue Reading
Social Movements & Civil Rights

Ceylon Riots Alter Ethnic Relations in Sri Lanka

May 22nd, 1958 66 years ago

In May 1958, widespread riots erupted in Ceylon, fueled by ethnic tensions primarily between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. Triggered by an inflammatory speech and subsequent incidents, violence spread rapidly across the country. Shops were looted, homes burned, and violent clashes resulted in an estimated 300 deaths, predominantly among Tamils. The riots led to increased government intervention in ethnic matters and marked a significant turning point in the relationship between the country's diverse communities.

Continue Reading