Communal attacks on minority Muslims has continued unabated in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. On Wednesday a fresh round of violence Kandy district, a day after authorities declared a state of emergency to suppress heightening anti-Muslim attacks.
Scattered and sporadic attacks targeting Muslim-owned shops and buildings in the suburbs of Akurana and Katugastota, near Kandy, were carried out by a mob, reportedly Sinhalese, local sources said.
President Maithripala Sirisena convened a meeting with top officials to review the situation. Following the meeting, he tweeted: “Visited Kandy to discuss the prevailing situation and with religious leaders and law enforcement authorities. I ordered to strengthen security in the area.”
Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission blocked online networks such as Facebook, Viber and Whatsapp across the country for three days to prevent panic and further communal violence.
For the past few days, Sri Lanka has witnessed violent attacks targeting the island’s Muslim minority. It began last weekend, following a road rage incident in which a group of Muslim youths beat a Sinhalese driver, who later died.
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