1985 anti-Tamil pogrom in Karaitivu

The 1985 anti-Tamil pogrom in Karaitivu refers to the organised violence directed at the Tamil civilian population of Karaitivu, Ampara by Sri Lankan Muslim mobs aided by Sri Lankan security forces.

In April 1985, President J. R. Jayewardene sent M. H. Mohamed, along with his supporters to attack Tamils in the village of Karaitivu (Ampara). A mob of 3000 Sri Lankan Muslim youth with the support of the security forces killed several Tamils, raped several women and burned over 2000 Tamil homes, rendering 15,000 Tamils homeless. Shops were also looted and several Hindu temples destroyed including a temple of Pattini, where the idols were broken.

According to Muslim journalist Qadri Ismail, 11 people were killed and 40 hospitalised during the ensuing violence between 12 April and 14 April. He also visited the area a month earlier and noted there was no evidence that the Muslims had felt sufficiently threatened to resort to such violence, which would only bring them insecurity. However, others have accused the Tamil militant groups of having behaved aggressively towards Muslims in the months leading up to the violence. Extortion and abductions of Muslims by the militants in the Eastern Province had occurred since 1984. Though this was similar to how militants extracted money from Tamils in the north, eastern Muslims more openly opposed these actions, providing the government with an opportunity to incite Muslims against Tamils.

On 12 April 1985, Muslim minister A.L.A. Majeed accused an outside force of instigating the attacks:

"'The Tamils and Muslims have been living peacefully for hundreds of years. I wish to bring to your notice that certain sinister forces and self-interested parties are trying to bring about a violent clash between Tamils and Muslims. Therefore, Muslims should be vigilant. We learn that certain fake politicians are doing their damnedest to provoke a violent ethnic conflict between the Tamils and the Muslims in the Eastern province which will only result in the loss of life and property.'"

Similarly, Minister Savumiamoorthy Thondaman told the parliament that "7 lorries and 2 jeeps filled with thugs had gone from Colombo to the Eastern Province to provoke trouble".

On 17 April 1985, a further 27 Tamil civilians in the area were murdered by the STF.