1983 anti-Tamil pogrom in Trincomalee

The 1983 anti Tamil pogrom in Trincomalee was organised violence by Sinhalese mobs and security forces, which targeted the Tamil population of Trincomalee between June and July 1983.

At least 27 Tamils (including women and children) were killed in the ensuing violence, with hundreds of Tamil homes, shops, hotels, boats and temples being destroyed. These events served as a prelude to the subsequent Black July pogrom that followed the killing of 13 soldiers in 23 July, and triggered the Sri Lankan civil war.

Nancy Murray, a member of the council of the Institute of Race Relations, summarised the violence as follows:

"'The two-months pogrom at Trincomalee left the town in ruins, thousands homeless and over 30 dead by the end of July. There was a certain method in all this destruction. For years, the government had been sponsoring Sinhalese settlement of Eastern Districts. These settlers were too willing to take part in acts of aggression against their Tamil neighbors, as part of their expansionist drive.'"

Background
Since the 1930s, the majority Sinhalese government settled Sinhalese in the predominantly Tamil speaking Eastern Province, with the explicit intention to restore what they saw as lost ancient Sinhala settlements, as well as to reduce the Tamils' claim to local autonomy. 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.

The typical pattern of violence involved security forces conducting 'search' operations in a particular Tamil area and apprehending a few young men under 'suspicion,' in order to ensure that the area was left defenceless. Subsequently, organized Sinhalese mobs would seize the opportunity to move in and set properties on fire. They would also attack Tamil villages at night, where they would burn, rape and pillage.

In light of the worsening situation, A. Amirthalingam visited Trincomalee on 1 July to investigate. He returned to Colombo the following day and sent President J. R. Jayewardene the following telegram:

"'Just returned after personally studying situation in Trincomalee. Reports of violence by both sides absolutely incorrect. Over sixteen people killed – all Tamils. About forty people in hospital seriously injured by cutting and shooting – over thirty-five Tamils. One hundred and fifty houses burnt – over ninety five percent Tamil houses. Nearly a thousand people dehoused and in refugee camps – not one Sinhalese. Services conduct search in Tamil areas terrorizing people and this followed immediately by thugs attacking the Tamil people and setting fire to the houses.'"

The violence further escalated in July, when naval personnel were observed carrying cotton swabs and cans of oil, which they openly employed to commit arson in premises owned by Tamils. Tamil civilians, including children between the ages of 1–4, were also shot and hacked to death.

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:

"'About 150 Navy personnel went on a rampage and destroyed about 200 Tamil business places and houses in Trincomalee town in six hours on the night of the 26th July. With the assistance of the police and army about 200 houses of Tamils were burnt in the Trincomalee District and 1,500 persons who were rendered homeless had to seek shelter as refugees in school buildings. There seems to be a calculated move to drive the Tamils out of Trincomalee by terrorising them.'"

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.

4th June
In Trincomalee town, B. Neminathan-owned Mansion hotel was attacked and set ablaze by a mob after the hotel's guards were removed by the army. A van and all the furniture in the hotel were destroyed. None of the perpetrators were apprehended by the police. At China bay, a Hindu temple was attacked and damaged.

5th June
In Villangkulam, 8 Tamil houses were set ablaze. In Pankulam, N.Sriskandarasa was murdered and the Ganesha Temple was set ablaze.

7th June
At Mullippaththanai, S. Rajathurai was murdered.

8th June
At Trincomalee town, a chariot belonging to a Siva temple was burnt and a sub-postmaster Mr. S.Sivanandam was shot at and his house set ablaze. Several Tamil houses were also bombed.

9th June
At Huskisson Road in Trincomalee town, Samson's house was bombed.

11th June
At Trincomalee town, two bombs were thrown at M.P. R. Sampanthan's house at 3:30 AM, despite a dusk to dawn curfew being imposed. At Ehambaram road, a Business centre was also bombed. A Tamil youth called Rasathurai was also murdered and a Tamil fishing wadiya set ablaze. At the dockyard, a bomb was thrown at the Gandhi hotel.

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.

14th June
At Panmathavachchi, 4 Hindu shrines were damaged.

15th June
Opposite the Trincomalee Railway station, a Tamil clerk's house was burnt. A Tamil CTB employee's house was burnt in front of Uppuveli police quarters.

17th June
At Kinniya, two people were murdered including one Mr. Saunthararasa.

18th June
At Anpuvalipuram, 3 Tamil houses were burnt. The charred bodies of two murdered brothers, Sandanam Sunderarajah (32) and Sandanam Krishnamoorthy (29), were discovered in the jungle around the Uppuveli police area.

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.