Fresh anti-Muslim riots flare in Sri Lanka despite state of emergency

Police ordered a curfew across much of the region for a third day in a bid to calm the situation.

Published Mar 7, 2018

Last updated Mar 7, 2018

Police officers attempt to douse burning shops in Ambatenna, in central Sri Lanka (Rukmal Gamage/AP)

Anti-Muslim rioting has flared up again in central Sri Lanka despite a state of emergency, with Buddhist mobs burning mosques and Muslim-owned shops in at least two towns, residents said.

The police ordered a curfew across much of the region for a third day on Wednesday in a bid to calm the situation.

Sri Lanka Violence — Security forces stand near a vandalised building in Digana, a suburb of Kandy. after mobs swept through the town, burning at least 11 Muslim-owned shops and homes (Pradeep Pathiran/AP)

Anti-Muslim riots began on Monday after a Buddhist Sinhalese man died after reportedly being attacked by a group of Muslim youths.

Meanwhile, an internet company official said the government has ordered popular social media networks to be blocked across a swathe of central Sri Lanka in an attempt to stop the spread of religious violence.

The official said the networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Viber and WhatsApp, were blocked in the central hills, scene of the violence. However, many people outside that region were also unable to access the social media sites.