Executive Summary: Fire to Silence Tracing the Arc from  Black July  to Semmani This executive summary of “Fire to Silence" outlines how Sri Lanka’s anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983 ignited a cycle of violence and impunity, tracing the enduring impact of these events up to the recent discovery of a mass grave in 2025. The article highlights persistent patterns of atrocity, denial, and memory in Tamil regions, examines obstacles to justice, and proposes steps toward accountability and reconciliation. Historical Context: Black July 1983  The article begins with the Black July pogrom of 1983 as a pivotal starting point. In late July 1983, mobs organized by Sinhala nationalist elements attacked Tamil civilians across Sri Lanka, killing thousands and burning Tamil homes and businesses. This outbreak of ethnic violence, backed or abetted by elements within the government, marked a brutal ignition of the country’s Armed conflicts. Black July ’s legacy set the stage for ...