The 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom and riots which began on this day in 1958 and lasted till May 29, was first island-wide ethnic riots and pogrom to target the minority Tamils in the Dominion of Ceylon after it became an independent dominion from Britain in 1948. Although a state of emergency was declared on May 27, 1958, sporadic disturbances continued. The estimates of the murders, based on recovered body count, range from 158 to 1,500. Although most of the victims were Tamils, Sinhalese and their property were also affected by retaliatory attacks by Tamil mobs throughout the Batticaloa and Jaffna districts. As the first full-scale race riot in the country in over forty years, the events of 1958 shattered the trust the communities had in one another and led to further polarization.
-Wikipedia
Photo Caption – A Sinhalese mob beats a Tamil passenger after pulling him out of his car during the riots in 1958 –Victor Ivan/Tamil Guardian