Remembering Black July 1983:

Commemorating the inconvenient

In 2013, to remember Black July 1983, Groundviews brought together leading documentary filmmakers, photographers, activists, theorists and designers, in Sri Lanka and abroad, to focus on just how deeply the anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 shaped our imagination, lives, society and polity. The events of Aluthgama and Beruwela in June 2014 reminded us that the same mindset which gave rise to the anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 was still alive and indeed, strengthened under the Rajapaksa regime.

The content on the 30 Years Ago site, from Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese won critical acclaim locally and internationally.

An exhibition in Colombo of select content from the website brought together, for the first time, Deshamanya Bradman Weerakoon and Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, respectively the country's first Commissioner General of Essential Services and the Government Agent of Jaffna at the time. Three other panels looked at the pogrom through the lens of mainstream media coverage, the arts, theatre and creative output as well as the eyes of those who weren't alive at the time, or too young to remember the horrible violence.

Featured here a few of the framed memories from the 30 Years Ago site, courtesy Groundviews.
 

Memories cannot be erased	Poonga, ‘We bear numerous untold stories within’
At peace after 30 years of loss and despair	Gasworks Street and destroyed ruins. Makeshift shops have taken over and remained ever since.
York Street, Fort - The Ravaya Collection	Old buildings stand side by side newly rebuilt ones on Main Street.