Colombo, March 7 (newsin.asia): One person was killed and several were injured when an explosion occurred in Pujapitiya in Kandy district in Central Sri Lanka in the on-going communal violence involving Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims. It is not clear as to whether the deceased is a Sinhalese or a Muslim.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that it was not certain if the explosive was a grenade or not. Only the analyst’s report can say that.
The death toll has now risen to three.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on March 5 that the National Security Council decided to instruct the Police to enforce the law against all parties engaged in any activity that hinders the normal routines of the general public and to act decisively to control any unrest that might occur.
After describing the communal incidents that took place in Ampara a few weeks ago and several townships in Kandy district in the past two days, he went on to condemn the violence that has taken place. He added that there are various subversive elements out to use all means to disrupt the pace and whip up racism. He said that these unnamed groups were planning to disrupt normal life and capture power by unleashing terror.
‘
The majority in the country are Sinhala Buddhists. We will protect this heritage, as Sinhala Buddhists. There has been no threat to this heritage or related rights. We will not allow that to happen.”
‘There are other communities and religions in this country. All of them have the right to celebrate their cultures and follow their faiths without any hindrance. We will safeguard this right. Therefore we express our regret regarding the damage done to mosques.”
‘The government will not hesitate to take firm action against organized or subversive acts.”
Wickremesinghe also expressed his gratitude to the Maha Sangha, Muslim Maulavis, regional journalists and others who acted with extreme patience and wisdom.
He promised that those who suffered losses in the violence will be adequately and swiftly compensated and called upon the general public not to fall victim to traitors who want to achieve their objectives by whipping up racism.
END
