Police imposed a curfew again for a second day in the Grandpass area of capital Colombo, a day after a Buddhist mob yesterday allegedly threw rocks and vandalised a mosque the Grandpass district, prompting authorities to impose a curfew.
"The police curfew will be in effect from 6:00 p.M. Sunday to 7:00 a.M. Monday," Police Spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said.
Authorities urged the public to remain calm and avoid any conflicts amid fears of further confrontations. Police Riot Squad and the Special Task Force have been deployed to beef up security in the area.
The attack injured 12 people including two police officers providing security to the mosque and damaged several nearby buildings.
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Meanwhile, the US Embassy here expressed concern over the attack and demanded prosecution of perpetrators.
"This incident is particularly troubling in light of a number of recent attacks against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Targeting any place of worship should never be permitted and we urge calm from all sides.
We call for prosecution of perpetrators in this attack and an end to religious-based violence. The right of all Sri Lankans to practise the religion of their choice should be protected," it said in a statement.
The BBS has denied they were targeting the island's 9 per cent Muslim minority but claimed to have come forward to preserve the majority Buddhists' rights in the face of a threat from Muslim extremism.