At this stage, the violence was largely limited to assault, looting, and arson. That evening, Prime Minister Bandaranaike made an appeal to the nation calling for peace. However, he implied that Tamils had initiated the riots by only mentioning the killings in the Batticaloa District, particularly D. A. Seneviratne's murder, as a cause of communal violence.
At this point, the violence was mainly confined to assault, robbery, and arson. The Prime Minister of that nation appealed for peace that evening. However, he suggested that Tamils had started the riots by only mentioning the killings in Batticaloa District, particularly D. A. Seneviratne's murder, as a cause of communal conflict.