Twenty years on - riots that led to war.Black July '83 -

Twenty years on - riots that led to war By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

Twenty years ago, this week, saw the outbreak of anti-Tamil riots in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo that changed the course of the nation's history The riots, triggered by the killing of a group of soldiers in the Tamil north of the island, led directly to the outbreak of civil war. The riots targeted Colombo's Tamil citizens "In the lane there were about 50 to 75 people in a mob carrying all kinds of sticks and clubs and knives," recounts Shanthi Sachithanandam. "They were shouting; it was like the sound of an ocean, a chilling sound" she says. Shanthi got away in the nick of time while the mob banged on the car. "Is there a Tamil inside? " they shouted. Her husband Manoranjan spent the beginning of the riot discussing politics in an air-conditioned coffee shop blissfully unaware of the burning outside. He tried to get home but the road was blocked by burning cars, so he sheltered with a Sinhalese friend who saved his life. With a knife to his throat, the friend swore to the mob that there were no Tamils in his house.

Witnes of Sri Lanka Govt Warcrimes

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