Racism In Sri lanka

There is a palpable spike of racism in Sri Lanka..llast  month marked the 30th anniversary of Black July, I’m not 30 yet, and I wasn't born during that time, though like most youth I grew up with 20+ years of war and destruction. The anti-Tamil riots during the month of July in 1983 should never be forgotten.

As kids I remember my parents telling us about how they saw innocent Tamils stopped from cars and taken out or how houses were set on fire. My parents who went for their daily jobs in Colombo couldn't do anything but to watch in despair as angry mobs ransacked shops and harassed innocent people.  These killing and violence made a permanent scar in the Sri Lankan society, and any Sri Lankan would clearly know the implications it had on the war and the divide it brought forth.

Any young adult of my age in their 20s or early 30s who grew up in the 90s should clearly know the implications of racial extremism and what destruction a communal riot would bring to this small country. Partly for political mileage or otherwise state media used to shower the public with news and articles about Black July every year for its anniversary. So any kid growing up those days knew of the harm such a riot could bring to a country.

Therefore it is important to see the current events of "Muslim Phobia" unfold in the above context.It is said that we as a nation,collectively have an short term memory.Now is not the time.