Mobs run riot in Sri Lanka despite emergency laws
■ Curfew extended till Thursday evening in Kandy
Mobs torched Muslimowned businesses in a central Sri Lanka district on Wednesday as hundreds of police and troops struggled to restore order after days of rioting.
The soldiers poured into Kandy to reinforce police but arson attacks persisted even though the government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency and suspended the internet locally to quell attacks by mobs from the majority Sinhalese community.
An evening curfew was extended till Thursday evening in the troubled hill district popular with tourists, officials said.
Schools were shut across Kandy, a hill resort famed for its tea and Buddhist relics, as rioters defied curfews and clashed with police who used tear gas to disperse them.
Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne vowed those responsible for the lawlessness would be punished.
“This is organised violence,” Senaratne said in Colombo. “We have identified four individuals behind the riots and they will be arrested soon.”
He said police were also ordered to detain those accused of spreading messages fomenting hate against Muslims via social media.
At least three police officers were wounded overnight at Menikhinna, a suburb of Kandy which has been a focus of the new trouble, said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera.
Foreign governments issued travel warnings after Sri Lankan authorities granted sweeping powers to police and troops to arrest and detain suspects.
“The state of emergency may include curfews in specific locations,” the UK government said on its website.
“You should exercise caution, avoid protests and rallies and comply with local security requirements.”
The US State Department said further violence was possible and advised visitors to monitor local media for updates.
The United Nations condemned the violence and urged Colombo “to ensure that appropriate measures are swiftly taken to restore normalcy in affected areas”.