Here is an extract from “Emergency ‘58 â The Story of the Ceylon Race Riots”, a book Tarzie Vittachi wrote in 1958.
Between eight and ten oâclock that morning the situation all over the country, notably in Colombo district, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa and the BatticaloaâEravur area had deteriorated so badly that even the stoutest heart and most cynical mind could not possibly help quailing at the continuance of this barbarism. In Colombo Fort, Pettah and Colombo South the thugs ran amok, beating up people who wore their shirts over their vertis, Tamil fashion. They stopped pedestrians and passing cars looking for ear-ring holes in menâs ears. It was impossible to disguise these marks of early parental affection and many Tamils paid dearly for this traditional feature.
That was back in 1958. And we shouldn’t need reminding what happened 24 years ago.
Black July 1983, was a turning point in Sri Lanka’s modern history. We know our history, and I won’t go in to it here. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka doesn’t seem to learn from such events.
Here’s another grab from Emergency ‘58:
The people of Ceylon have seen how the mutual respect and goodwill which existed between two races for several hundred years was destroyed within the relatively brief period of thirty months.
The game continues…
1,190 have read this this article so far. You may also find these articles interesting:
- Emergency Rule, GSP+, Human Rights and Governance in Sri Lanka An interview on Emergency Rule, GSP+, Human Rights and Democracy in Sri Lanka conducted with Asanga Welikala, author of A State of Permanent Crisis: Constitutional Government, Fundamental Rights, and States of Emergency in Sri Lanka and, writing as Publius, one of the best read political and constitutional commentators on this site. (If the video is choppy,... Groundviews, October 25, 2008
- NORMALISING THE EXCEPTION: THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PEACETIME In response to a call by the Opposition and civil society to lift the state of emergency and to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in consequence of the end of the war, the Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva informed Parliament last Tuesday, 26th May 2009, that the Government has no... Publius, May 30, 2009
