A controversial figure in the history of Sri Lanka, Jayewardene's actions have been recognized as significantly contributing to the beginnings of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Following the 1983 anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka carried out by Sinhalese mobs, which caused between 400 and 3,000 Tamil deaths, Jayewardene distanced himself from the riots and did not attempt to stop the continuous attacks on the Tamils. Criticized for his handling of the tensions between the Tamils and Sinhalese, Jayewardene notoriously said, "Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy."