7 years ago
Sri Lanka today declared nation-wide emergency for 10 days following clashes between the majority Buddhists and members of the minority Muslim community. The latest unrest began on Sunday in Sri Lanka's central district of Kandy, after the funeral of a Buddhist truck driver, who died days after he was involved in an altercation with four Muslims, a government spokesperson said. The government sent troops and elite police to the area and curfew was imposed in Kandy. The government said some people were trying to instigate communal violence via social media and warned stern action against them.
Tensions between the Buddhists and Muslims have been growing over the past year with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites. Some Buddhist nationalists also protest against the presence of asylum-seeking Rohingya Muslims in Sri Lanka from Myanmar. Sinhalese Buddhists make up for 70 per cent of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million while Muslims comprise of 9 per cent.
Tensions between the Buddhists and Muslims have been growing over the past year with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites. Some Buddhist nationalists also protest against the presence of asylum-seeking Rohingya Muslims in Sri Lanka from Myanmar. Sinhalese Buddhists make up for 70 per cent of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million while Muslims comprise of 9 per cent.
Here are the highlights of Emergency in Sri Lanka:
President promulgated state emergency to redress unsatisfactory security situation prevailing in certain parts of country. Police and Armed Forces have been suitably empowered to deal with criminal elements in society and urgently restore normalcy: Sri Lanka President's Media Division
Heavily-armed police commandos of special task force were deployed in Theldeniya and Pallekele areas of Kandy after rioters disobeyed an overnight curfew and went on a rampage.
President ordered security forces and police to enforce law and order & to take immediate action to counter acts of violence affecting any community, in liaison with Government Agents/Divisional Secretaries & other District Administrative Authorities: Sudarshana Gunawardhana, news agency ANI reports.
Government urges every citizen of Sri Lanka to desist from falling prey to such hate and misinformation campaigns. As a country that had suffered by acts of violence for nearly three decades, we as a nation should desist from repetition of such: Director General of Government Information Department
"Government also condemns hate and mischievous misinformation campaigns carried out by some, especially via social media targeting the Muslim community in particular and others as well, with the clear objective of creating disharmony among and inciting violence," Mr Gunawardhana said.
Sudarshana Gunawardhana, Sri Lanka's Director General of Government Information Department says, "Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemns recent sporadic incidents of violence sparked off in Ampara & Digana, creating communal disharmony, where some places of worship, residences & businesses have been damaged," news agency ANI reports.
In the backdrop of nation-wide emergency in Sri Lanka, India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the first match of T20 Tri-series to be held at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium, news agency ANI reports. Heavy security forces deployed outside the stadium where the match is to begin shortly.
India's T20 Tri-Series To Go On: BCCI
"The Indian cricket board is in constant touch with the Sri Lankan government authorities. The security is foolproof and we have been assured that there is no threat to the tournament. So the Indian team, as of now, will be playing the tournament," BCCI's acting president CK Khanna tells news agency PTI.
"The Indian cricket board is in constant touch with the Sri Lankan government authorities. The security is foolproof and we have been assured that there is no threat to the tournament. So the Indian team, as of now, will be playing the tournament," BCCI's acting president CK Khanna tells news agency PTI.
Members of Sri Lanka's Buddhist community protest outside a police station in Kandy district, demanding the release of Buddhists arrested in the riot, news agency ANI reports.
BCCI Issues Statement On Emergency In Sri Lanka
"There have been reports of curfew and an emergency being called in Sri Lanka. The situation in picture is in Kandy and not Colombo. This is to notify everyone that after talking to concerned security personnel (Ministerial security division - in charge of team security), we have understood that the situation is completely normal in Colombo. If at all there is any update on the same we shall notify," BCCI said in a press release.
"There have been reports of curfew and an emergency being called in Sri Lanka. The situation in picture is in Kandy and not Colombo. This is to notify everyone that after talking to concerned security personnel (Ministerial security division - in charge of team security), we have understood that the situation is completely normal in Colombo. If at all there is any update on the same we shall notify," BCCI said in a press release.
