1983 in Sri Lanka

Incumbents

• President: J. R. Jayewardene

  Events

• Following the ambush of a Sri Lankan Army military patrol, the Black July riots begin claiming the lives of over 1000 ethnic tamils. roughly 150,000 people were homeless with many businesses burnt.
• The 2 decade long Sri Lankan Civil War begins on 23 July following ethnic tensions between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority.