The World - News from May 20, 1985
Unidentified gunmen in Sri Lanka killed at least 40 Tamil civilians in escalating violence between the Buddhist Sinhalese majority and the mostly Hindu Tamils, police said. The attack took place in Amparai, 150 miles east of the capital of Colombo, and followed by a day the killing of 16 Tamils in the eastern port of Trincomalee, police said. In what appeared to be a reference to the same incidents, Tamil leaders said security forces killed a total of 59 civilians in attacks in the same area. President Junius R. Jayewardene, in a speech, condemned reported military rampages against Tamil civilians.
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