At least two killed in anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, at least two people are reported killed and dozens of shops burnt in anti-Muslim riots since yesterday following Easter Sunday attacks. 

Overnight curfew imposed countrywide has been lifted this morning except for Northwestern province which remains the worst affected as mobs ransacked mosques and business establishments of Muslims. 

Schools in the province will remain closed due to curfew. Police had to fire tear gas at several places to disperse the mobs. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said the country would be destabilized if racial conflicts are to emerge and country’s peace is to be destroyed. He said it in a statement that security forces have been authorized to take stern action against those who obstruct the country’s peace. 

The premier called on the public to render maximum support to the security forces to ensure peace and security in the country. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa appealed to



the people to avoid taking the law into their own hands and prevent enemy forces from plunging the country into another 1983 Black July. 

Issuing a statement, Mr. Rajapaksa said the country had been dragged into a 30-year war due to the ethnic violence that erupted with the blessings of the then government in July 1983. 

Parliament speaker Karu Jaysurya in a message said future of Sri Lanka will be decided by the way people behave in the next few days. He said if communal violence cannot be prevented, terrorists will be able to legitimize their crime, as they did in 1983. 

Several Social media sites were blocked for the third time since Easter attacks for preventing rumours to spread and Twitter was also added to the list of blocked sites. 

Hate crimes have been on the rise against Muslims following Easter Sunday attacks which killed over 250 people including 45 foreigners.