The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday announced a curfew for a second night in a row after a Muslim man was killed in a riot against Muslims after the Easter attacks.

The violence broke out late on Monday after three weeks of suicide bombings that killed 258 people. During the violence, shops were burned and some 2,000 people vandalized a mosque, witnesses said.

Police announced a curfew for the second night in a row, in an effort to stop the violence, starting at 9 pm local time.

The curfew was in effect throughout the day in the northwestern province, where police said a 45-year-old Muslim man was killed in his carpentry shop late on Monday by an angry crowd carrying a number of his swords.

Fadl al-Amin's funeral took place Tuesday in a graveyard in Natendia amid tight security. Police and heavily armed police were deployed at the ceremony, attended by nearly 100 people.

Police said on Tuesday 13 people had been arrested, including Amith Wirasinghe, a Buddhist majority of Sinhalese who was detained for his role in riots in March 2018.

Elsewhere in the north-western province north of Colombo, angry crowds, more than police and security forces, burned Muslim-owned shops, raided homes and smashed windows, furniture and contents inside several mosques.

In the neighboring Gambaha area, men driving motorbikes set fire to places in the town of Minwangoda, 45 km north of Colombo, residents told AFP.

"They started out on motorcycles with violence, they were from outside the town," a shopkeeper told Reuters by telephone. "Then they broke up shops of Muslims and threw incendiary bombs, and they were joined by residents."

The police did nothing
The shop owner said the police and security forces appeared to be confused and when they fired into the air to disperse the rioters, many shops were looted or looted.

Muslims living in terror because of attacks (Getty Images)

A Muslim-owned pasta factory was destroyed after unnamed attackers threw burning tires inside the factory around it to ashes.

Three of the Muslim workers were injured when they tried to escape from the burning factory, "owner of the Diamond Factory of Pastry Ashraf Jiffi told AFP by telephone.

In the north-western region, attackers systematically targeted mosques for two days, local religious scholars told AFP. In Kinyama town, two mosques were smashed, with fewer police and security officers standing by.

The cleric M. "My friend from the town of Pinghiriya, who imposed a curfew, said that" about 2,000 people surrounded our mosque and smashed everything inside, even bathroom fixtures. "

Recordings of violence showed burning shops, with rioters armed with sticks and stones walking the streets and attacking Muslim shops.

"The security forces are helping the police, which have received orders to use force to the fullest extent to contain the violence," said police spokesman Rowan Ghanasikra.

Premeditated and monitored
Commenting on the wave of violence targeting Muslims, political commentator Victor Ivan said violence was orchestrated. "The opposition feels it can make gains, amid instability as the government looks weak," he told AFP. "There is evidence that low-level political figures are inciting civil violence."

He added that the political establishment, including the opposition, failed to demonstrate their ability to lead and restore confidence, after the attacks of 21 April last adopted by the Organization of the Islamic State.

In a letter to the nation Monday evening, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the unrest was hampering the investigation into attacks on three Catholic churches and three hotels.

In turn, police chief Shandana Wickramaratny announced in a separate letter to crack down on rioters, saying his elements had been ordered to use maximum force.

Rioting occurs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with Muslims accounting for about 10 percent of the country's population, which is predominantly Buddhist, with Christians accounting for 7.6 percent.


The state of emergency declared after Easter attacks remains in place and security forces have been granted broad powers to arrest suspects.

Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakara added his voice to the voices of calm, and chirped on Twitter earlier, "Stop, breathe and think, open your eyes, if we lose ourselves and criticize violence, racism, bullying and hatred, we will lose our country."