Saw several interesting discussions on twitter about the lack of post independence history in Sri Lanka. Much has been written on the July 83 riots, its chief architects the @officialunp have never acknowledged their role in the riots, let alone express any remorse (1/4)

On this day (22nd May) in 1958 with more than tacit support of the SLFP an anti tamil pogrom started in in the North Central Province & spread across the country, there had been several incidents in previous years but this was much larger & widespread (2/4)

Tarzie Vittachi's book Emergency 58 provided a detailed account of the violence & the complicity of politicians. The book was dutifully banned in Ceylon and to this day is hard to come by. Vittachi was awarded the a Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1959 https://www.rmaward.asia/awardees/vittachi-tarzie/ (3/4)

Part of the citation reads as follows "Emergency ’58 appeals to all elements of Ceylonese society, particularly the leaders of the diverse groups, for a more rational attitude toward old differences and new insecurities." This appeal fell on deaf ears & the rest is history (4/4)