A violent clash between Buddhists and Muslims in Aluthgama, a southwestern coastal town about 60 km south of Colombo, on Sunday left three persons dead and nearly 80 injured, reports said.
Clashes began in Aluthgama and nearby Beruwela — Muslim-dominated towns located along the Sinhalese-majority southern coast — during a protest rally led by the hard-line Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force) and continued late Sunday night. Minor tensions continued in the area on Monday, gripping residents in fear.
A curfew imposed on Sunday is on indefinitely, police officials said. “The curfew will be there till normalcy returns completely,” police spokesperson told Ajith Rohana said The Hindu on Monday.
Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem told the media that three persons had died and 78 injured, but police maintained that two people had died and around 30 were injured.
The BBS, which led a campaign against halal certification last year, is also accused of playing a role in an attack against a popular Muslim-owned chain Fashion Bug nearly a year ago. The BBS denied involvement.
Police said the root cause was an assault on a Buddhist monk in the town, allegedly by three Muslims on June 12. The same day, police arrested three persons in this connection.
Asked if any arrest had been made following Sunday’s religious clash, Mr. Rohana said: “So far no arrest has been made. We have set up three investigation teams to find out who the culprit was. There was violence from both sides, and casualties on both sides.
There was no official statement from the Sri Lankan government on the violence – said to be the worst communal clash in recent times – except for a tweet from President Rajapaksa, on a visit to Bolivia.
The Government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. I urge all parties concerned to act in restraint.” and “An investigation will be held for law to take its course of action to bring to book those responsible for incidents in Aluthgama” — he tweeted from there.
Bureau Report
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