194 notable events in Sri Lanka — massacres, wars and bombings. Page 1 of 2.
- Mullivaikkal massacre
Jan 1, 2009 · Massacre
- Tamil genocide
1956–2009 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- Sinking of IRIS Dena
Mar 4, 2026 · Attack (other)
- 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings
Apr 21, 2019 · Bombing & explosion
- IRIS Dena
date unknown · Maritime disaster
- Sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka
Jan 1, 1958 · Crime & justice
- Black July
Jul 24, 1983–Jul 30, 1983 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- HMS Hermes (95)
date unknown · Aviation accident
- 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck
Dec 26, 2004 · Rail accident
- Burning of the Jaffna Public Library
Jun 1, 1981 · Attack (other)
- Murder of S. Vithiya
May 13, 2015 · Murder & homicide
- Sri Lankan economic crisis (2019–2024)
from Apr 21, 2019 · Crisis
- Aragalaya
Mar 15, 2022–Nov 14, 2022 · Riot & unrest
- 1987–1989 JVP insurrection
1987–1989 · War & armed conflict
- 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom
Jun 1958 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- War crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war
Jan 1, 2009 · War & armed conflict
- 1974 Tamil conference incident
Jan 10, 1974 · Massacre
- Martinair Flight 138
Dec 4, 1974 · Aviation accident
- Colombo Central Bank bombing
Jan 31, 1996 · Bombing & explosion
- Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa
May 1, 1993 · Murder & homicide
- Air Lanka Flight 512
May 3, 1986 · Aviation accident
- 1971 JVP insurrection
Apr 5, 1971–Jun 1971 · War & armed conflict
- HMAS Vampire (D68)
date unknown · Maritime disaster
- Loftleiðir Flight 001
Nov 15, 1978 · Aviation accident
- Bandaranaike Airport attack
Jul 24, 2001 · Attack (other)
- 1990 massacre of Sri Lankan Police officers
Jun 11, 1990 · Massacre
- Anuradhapura massacre
May 14, 1985 · Massacre
- Gonagala massacre
Sep 18, 1999 · Massacre
- Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)
Jul 18, 1996–Jul 25, 1996 · War & armed conflict
- Kattankudy mosque massacre
Aug 3, 1990 · Massacre
- Second Battle of Elephant Pass
Apr 23, 2000 · War & armed conflict
- Assassination of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Sep 25, 1959 · Terrorism
- Murder of Yvonne Jonsson
Jul 1, 2005 · Murder & homicide
- Chemmani mass graves
Jan 1, 1995 · Massacre
- 1977 anti-Tamil pogrom
Aug 28, 1977 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- Lionair Flight 602
Sep 29, 1998 · Aviation accident
- Murder of Seya Sadewmi
Sep 12, 2015 · Murder & homicide
- Eastern University massacre
Sep 5, 1990 · Massacre
- 1956 anti-Tamil pogrom
Jun 11, 1956 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- Aranthalawa massacre
Jun 2, 1987 · Massacre
- 1998 Temple of the Tooth attack
Jan 25, 1998 · Terrorism
- Kent and Dollar Farm massacres
Nov 30, 1984 · Massacre
- 1981 anti-Tamil pogrom
Aug 1, 1981 · Genocide & ethnic violence
- Air raid on Ceylon (5 April 1942)
Apr 5, 1942–Apr 9, 1942 · War & armed conflict
- 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis
from Apr 3, 2022 · Crisis
- Jaffna hospital massacre
1987 · Massacre
- Kumudini boat massacre
May 15, 1985 · Massacre
- Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka
date unknown · Genocide & ethnic violence
- Palliyagodella massacre
Oct 15, 1992 · Massacre
- Prageeth Eknaligoda
date unknown · Kidnapping & hostage
- Four Four Bravo ambush
Jul 23, 1983 · War & armed conflict
- Great Rebellion of 1817–1818
1817–1818 · War & armed conflict
- Kebithigollewa massacre
Jun 15, 2006 · Massacre
- Allaipiddy massacre
May 13, 2006 · Massacre
- Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base
Oct 22, 2007 · War & armed conflict
- Welikada prison massacre
Jul 25, 1983 · Massacre
- 2018 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka
Mar 10, 2018 · Riot & unrest
- Thirunelveli massacre
Jul 24, 1983 · Massacre
- 1985 Valvettiturai massacre
May 12, 1985 · Massacre
- Assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga
Feb 16, 1988 · Murder & homicide
- 2009 suicide air raid on Colombo
Feb 20, 2009 · War & armed conflict
- Sainthamaruthu shootout
Apr 26, 2019 · War & armed conflict
- Chencholai bombing
Aug 14, 2006 · Bombing & explosion
- Assassination of Lalith Athulathmudali
Apr 23, 1993 · Murder & homicide
- 1915 Sinhalese-Muslim riots
May 28, 1915–Aug 30, 1915 · Riot & unrest
- 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka
Jun 15, 2014–Jun 17, 2014 · Attack (other)
- Murunkan massacre
Apr 7, 1978 · Massacre
- Attempted assassination of Chandrika Kumaratunga
Dec 18, 1999 · Murder & homicide
- Veeramunai massacres
Aug 15, 1990 · Massacre
- 2019 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka
May 16, 2019 · Riot & unrest
- Matale rebellion
1848 · War & armed conflict
- Murders of Russel Ingram and Eunice Peiris
Aug 10, 1978 · Murder & homicide
- 2008 Weliveriya bombing
Apr 6, 2008 · Bombing & explosion
- Navaly church bombing
Jul 9, 1995 · War & armed conflict
- Assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge
Jan 8, 2009 · Murder & homicide
- Murder of K. Tharshan
Jan 25, 2016 · Murder & homicide
- 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis
from Oct 26, 2018 · Crisis
- 1962 Ceylonese coup attempt
Jan 27, 1962 · War & armed conflict
- Eugene John Hebert
Aug 15, 1990 · Murder & homicide
- Role of the Sri Lankan Home Guards in the Sri Lankan Civil War
Jan 1, 1984 · War & armed conflict
- Eravur massacre
Aug 12, 1990 · Massacre
- 1984 Manal Aru massacres
Dec 1984 · Massacre
- 1987 Eastern Province massacres
1987 · Massacre
- Assassination of Gamini Dissanayake
Oct 24, 1994 · Terrorism
- SLNS Ranaviru
date unknown · Maritime disaster
- 1989 Temple of the Tooth attack
Feb 8, 1989 · Attack (other)
- Conquest of Koneswaram Temple
Apr 14, 1622 · War & armed conflict
- Aluth Oya massacre
Apr 17, 1987 · Massacre
- Kantale Dam
date unknown · Industrial & structural disaster
- 1989 Valvettiturai massacre
Aug 3, 1989 · Massacre
- 1996 Dehiwala train bombing
Jul 24, 1996 · Rail accident
- MV Farah III
date unknown · Attack (other)
- Kanthan Karunai massacre
Mar 30, 1987 · Massacre
- 2006 Digampathaha bombing
Oct 16, 2006 · Terrorism
- Disappearance of Father Francis
date unknown · Disappearance
- 2006 Trincomalee massacre of NGO workers
Aug 4, 2006 · Massacre
- Vankalai massacre
Jun 8, 2006 · Massacre
- 1985 Trincomalee massacres
Sep 1, 1985 · Massacre
- 1987 grenade attack in the Sri Lankan Parliament
Aug 18, 1987 · Terrorism
- Mullivaikkal Hospital bombings
May 12, 2009 · Bombing & explosion