Colombo, March 5 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on Monday ordered the police to conduct an immediate impartial probe into the violent attacks in Kandy, in the island’s Central Hills, which was triggered by racial violence.
Local media reports said Sirisena had also instructed the army and police to provide the highest security to ensure the safety of all citizens in the district.
Police have imposed curfew in Kandy after violent mobs took to the streets earlier on Monday causing severe unrest.
Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara told newsin.asia that the curfew had been imposed till Tuesday morning 6 am in order to restore normalcy and security had been beefed up across the Kandy district.
Meanwhile Muslim Ministers raised concerns over the unrest in Kandy and called on the government to conduct an impartial probe.
Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, in a statement said he had been continuously informed on the changing situation in Kandy District and had contacted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the issue.
“Accordingly, I have spoken to the Prime Minister and requested him for prompt action and I have been assured of speedy action on the safety of people, and their belongings. I thank Prime Minister for his prompt response. I join him in his call to the communities to work in unity to achieve peace and reconciliation, which is one of the key pillars of the way forward vision for Sri Lanka by our Unity Government.”
The Police Spokesman said the clashes had erupted in Digana town in Kandy on Sunday night after a 41-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a group of people on Feb 22.
The victim who was a resident of Ambala in Medamahanuwara had been attacked by a group of people in Teldeniya Town over an incident involving two vehicles. The victim had been rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
Gunasekara said 24 people had been arrested over the killing to date. Out of the 24, 10 had been directly involved in the killing of the victim while 14 people had been arrested on suspicion.
Several shops, had been burnt by unruly mobs in Digana town on Sunday night after which special police teams and STF personnel had rushed to the area.
However protests had continued throughout the night with violent mobs clashing on Monday afternoon. Police had used tear gas to disperse the crowds after which police curfew had been imposed throughout the Kandy administrative district.
