''The
police and the government made no attempt to stop or hinder small gangs
of men who went about with lists, burning the houses and flats (in
Sinhala owned dwellings only the contents), grocery stores, pharmacies,
textile shops, tailoring establishments, restaurants, bookshops,
hardware shops, lawyers offices, studios... as well as tourist hotels.
They also burnt trucks, vans and cars. They went
for only those things which were owned by (Tamils)... They did this
expertly.... within sight of President's House in the administrative and
business centre, a few yards away from the Prime Minister's official
residence, near the UNP headquarters, in blocks immediately adjacent to
or opposite major police stations - taking care, on a hot, dry morning,
not to start fires which would spread to adjacent Sinhalese owned or
state property. Accidents and violations of 'discipline' were few.''
(Sri Lanka - The Unfinished Quest for Peace - L.Piyadasa, Marram Books,
1988)
