State discrimination triggered a sequence of escalating anti-Tamil riots.

Evidence

The state’s discriminatory policies led to anti-Tamil riots in 1956, followed by deadlier riots in 1958, 1978, 1981, and 1983. The 1983 riot was especially gruesome and caused thousands of Tamils to flee to India and Western countries as refugees, producing a vibrant Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. This diaspora plays a major role in financing the Tamil separatist struggle now waged by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 606

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Electoral majoritarianism in 1956 gave rise to anti-Tamil violence and empowered extremists.; Racist newspaper narratives deliberately escalated southern anti-Black violence. — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The…, 643; The Sri Lankan state deploys its own terrorism against minorities while fighting separatists. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 718 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Electoral majoritarianism in 1956 gave rise to anti-Tamil violence and empowered extremists. #corroborates (0.95)
• The Sri Lankan state deploys its own terrorism against minorities while fighting separatists. #expands (0.75) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 718
• Racist newspaper narratives deliberately escalated southern anti-Black violence. #corroborates (0.72) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 643