Sri Lanka imposes emergency for 10-days over deadly Buddhist-Muslim clash

NewsBharati    06-Mar-2018
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Colombo, March 6: Sri Lanka's government has imposed a nation-wide state of emergency for ten days to quell deadly Buddhist-Muslim clash, today. 

The measure comes after a local curfew was imposed on Monday in the Kandy District to prevent clashes between majority Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims after a mob set fire to a Muslim-owned shop.

Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said, police fired tear gas to disperse an unruly crowd which torched several houses and shops belonging to a minority community.

He said, the clashes had erupted last night after a 41-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a group of people on February 22.

Earlier, the Government of Sri Lanka strongly and unequivocally condemns the recent Sporadic incidents of violence that had sparked" off in Ampara and Digana, creating Communal disharmony, where some places of worship, residences and businesses have been damaged.

This is the second incident of violence over past few weeks. A similar violence in eastern province last month has damaged several houses and a mosque while causing injury to few.

Religious and ethnic violence had turned deadly in Sri Lanka, where Muslims account for 10 percent of the 21 million population, and Buddhists Sinhalese make up nearly 75 percent. Another 13 percent of the population are Hindus.
Sri Lanka emergency anti Muslim riots Buddhist Kandy District Digana mosque attack Sri Lanka violence