Sri Lanka police declared curfew in Sri Lanka's southern coastal town of Aluthgama today after simmering tensions between the Buddhist extremists and Muslims escalated into clashes.
Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana requested the people in the area not to move on thoroughfares and other streets, and warned that actions would be taken under chapter 10 of the code of criminal procedures, against violators.
The Spokesman urged the people to remain calm and not to disrupt the peace in the country.
Reportedly the Buddhist extremist group Bodu Bala Sena held a rally earlier today in Aluthgama and arrived in the Muslims dominated Dharga Town in a vehicle convoy triggering the communal clash between the Sinhalese and Muslims.
The Muslims have pelted stones at the BBS convoy and they have retaliated Muslims. The clash has injured a large number of people, according to local media reports.
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds but failed to prevent the clashes until the Special Task Force (STF) arrived at the scene and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The coastal town has been on the edge for the last three days after a Muslim youth manhandled a Buddhist monk and his driver on the Poson Poya Day. The police arrested three suspects over the incident.(Colombo Page)
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