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Police curfew was declared in a Sri Lankan town on Sunday after Muslims clashed with a Buddhist hardline organization. A large number of people were injured while two shops and a van were set on fire, local media reported.
Police declared curfew in the southern coastal town of Aluthgama after communal tensions between minority Muslims and hardline Buddhists spilled over into clashes.
"Curfew will be in effect until further notice. We urge people to remain calm and stay at their homes," police spokesman Ajith Rohana told reporters.
The area has been simmering with communal tension for over two months with various incidents reported.
Tensions escalated last week when police arrested three persons after the driver of a car carrying a Buddhist monk was allegedly assaulted, which subsequently led to an assault on the monk.
Last Thursday angry mobs surrounded the police station and attacked several Muslim-owned shops in the area with stones and other objects, prompting police to use tear gas on the crowd.
Police were pelted with stones before a heavy contingent of riot police restored peace.
The latest clashes were sparked by Buddhist extremist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), which held a rally earlier on Sunday in Aluthgama and went to the Muslims-dominated Dharga Town in a vehicle convoy.
The group was planning to demonstrate across the town to the temple of the monk who was assaulted three days ago. The Muslims in the town had reportedly pelted stones at the BBS convoy and the BBS in retaliation has pelted stones at the Muslims, triggering a communal clash between the Sinhalese and Muslims in the town.
Police Special Forces had to use water cannons and tear gas to bring the situation under control, local media reported. Muslim shops have been closed in the area after two shops and a van were set on fire during the clashes. A heavy police presence remains in the town and the time for lifting the curfew is yet to be announced.
