WASHINGTON, May 5 (IslamOnline) - A dusk-to-dawn curfew clamped on the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Friday, after Muslim protestors clashed with police, has been lifted following the return of calm to the city.
Eight people were arrested on charges of arson, and twenty six others for inciting violence during the unrest.
Muslim protestors had taken to the streets after Jumuah prayers in the city's Mardana area, damaging several cars. They were protesting fighting between minority Muslims and majority Sinhala Buddhists in Mawanella, located some 50 miles from Colombo earlier this week in which at least three persons were killed.
In Mawanella, over 80 Muslim business establishments were destroyed and two mosques were set on fire.
The trouble started in Mawanella on Tuesday after a Muslim cashier of a restaurant refused to pay extortion money to a Sinhala thug with close connections to minister Mahipala Herath.
The Sinhala gangster then reportedly attacked the youth with a razor knife causing severe cuts. Four policeman on duty did not intervene and stood by idly. Police also refused to lodge a complaint on behalf of the injured youth.
Frustrated Muslims launched a massive protest the next day demanding justice and were instead beaten and fired upon by police, resulting in the deaths, and damage to property, estimated at around Rs.60 million.
Meanwhile in Colombo Saturday, opposition United National Party leader Ranil Wickremedinghe appealed for calm and asked citizens to cooperate with the security forces in maintaining law and order and to be vigilant against attempts to foment clashes between the communities.
A massive special security network has been implemented in the western and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka in addition to Kurunegala, Matale and Puttalam to prevent Mawanella type riots, police said.
