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A full curfew situation for the next 24 hours has been declared under emergency regulations for the Kandy district commencing from 4 pm today. Police curfew was imposed in the district during the last two days. However, attacks on Muslim households, places of worship and businesses had continued during the Police curfew under the watch of the Police and Armed forces

Severe allegations have been levelled against the Police and Forces for their lack of efficiency. Despite the curfew, security in and around Kandy appeared lax with only a small number of roadblocks in place while mobile patrol units were hardly present. Attackers had taken this weakness of the Police to continue their attacks while law enforcement officials appeared to be overwhelmed and unable to control the situation. Some victims have also alleged the Police and STF of supporting the attackers and standing back as the violence continued against them.

Meanwhile, leave of all Police Officers islandwide has been cancelled until further notice under the orders of IGP Pujith Jayasundara.

Minister of education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that all government schools in the Kandy district will be closed until further notice.

Sri Lankan government has taken steps to ban popular social networking sites including Facebook and What's App, after the Sri Lankan police failed to control clashes that arose between two communities in certain parts of the country. Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), the regulator of the telecommunications industry in the country said that the public can expect a general slowdown of social media platforms until further notice. However, all social media platforms have been completely blocked since mid afternoon, today (07).

The TRC said that content in social media platforms is being filtered on the instructions of the Ministry of Defence. Accordingly, content on social media platforms such as Facebook,Twitter, What's App and Viber are being monitored. Any content that instigates or propagates violence as well as content found to be 'fake' will be filtered out.

Wednesday's blockade of social media platforms was taken "in the interest of maintenance of public order", a highly placed TRC official speaking on the condition of anonymity said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has the distinction of joining the likes of North Korea and Iran who have taken steps to ban social media platforms in their respective countries. Many activists in Sri Lanka are calling this ban egregious and asinine as it restricts freedom of expression.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, will visit Sri Lanka this week as planned while the country is in a state of emergency, a UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

Under Secretary Feltman will visit Sri Lanka from the 9-11 of March and will hold discussions with Sri Lankan leaders. He is also expected to visit Kandy where two people were killed in the violence.

The visit by the Under Secretary General was planned before the island nation declared the state of emergency and is part of ongoing UN engagement with Sri Lanka, the spokesman added.

To make statements or release publications intended to incite violence and / or engage in hate speech amounts to criminal conduct according to the laws of Sri Lanka and according to Section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act, says Director General of Government Information Sudarshana Gunawardhana.

 Issuing a statement on Publishing Statements Inciting Violence Targeted Against Particular Communities, the Director General said that therefore all citizens, and especially media institutions, should ensure that they do not themselves incite violence or engage in hate speech in contravention of the laws of Sri Lanka, and that they do not publish such statements calculated to incite violence as aforesaid.

 The full text of the Director General's statement is as follows;

 It is disturbing to note that statements inciting violence, especially targeted against particular communities, have been published / circulated on certain media, especially social media.

 It should be noted that such incitement to violence is contrary to the fundamental duties (recognized by Article 28 of the Constitution) of all citizens to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law; to further the national interest and to foster national unity; to preserve and protect public property; and to respect the rights and freedoms of others.

 To make statements or release publications intended to incite violence and / or engage in hate speech amounts to criminal conduct according to the laws of Sri Lanka and according to Section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act. The relevant section states that “No person shall propagate war or advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

 Similarly, the Prevention of Terrorism Act prohibits any person to “by words either spoken or intended to be read or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise cause or intend to cause commission of acts of violence or religious, racial or communal disharmony or feelings of ill-will or hostility between different communities or racial or religious groups.

 The Penal Code also criminalizes the abetment of an offence (section 100) and recognizes that instigation of an offence would amount to abetment. Thus, instigation of acts of violence such as causing hurt and causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, etc. would amount to the abetment of such offences.

 While the Constitution recognizes (subject to the imposition of lawful restrictions) the freedom of speech and expression including publication, these rights must be exercised in a responsible manner, with (among others) due regard for the rights and freedoms of others. The freedom of expression must also be exercised in a manner which does not amount to an incitement to violence / hate speech.

Therefore, all citizens, and especially media institutions, should ensure that they do not themselves incite violence or engage in hate speech in contravention of the laws of Sri Lanka, and that they do not publish such statements calculated to incite violence as aforesaid.

Rule of law, human rights, and equality are essential for peaceful coexistence, The US embassy in Colombo said in a statement today.

"It is important that the Government of Sri Lanka act quickly against perpetrators of sectarian violence, protect religious minorities and their places of worship, and conclude the State of Emergency swiftly, while protecting human rights and basic freedoms for all."

Amnesty International called on the Sri Lankan authorities to take action against those responsible for attacks on the country’s Muslim minority. Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty’s South Asia Director, said, “It is important that the authorities take action against mobs who have incited hatred and carried out acts of violence against religious minorities.

Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty’s Deputy South Asia Director, said, “The Sri Lankan authorities must put an end to the impunity enjoyed by groups that incite hatred and carry out acts of violence against religious minorities. They have a duty to protect vulnerable groups and hold the perpetrators accountable.

“The failure to take action against these groups has only emboldened them further and plunged minorities into a deeper state of fear. This is not the first time such horrors have been visited upon the country’s Muslim minority.

Meanwhile, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera also called the authorities to take stern action on those who permeate racial violence and stated that it should be made a 'non-bailable offence'.

President Maithripala Sirisena said the government would not allow foreign direct investments (FDI) at the cost of local industries.

President Sirisena mentioned this in a discussion held regarding the issues related to local industries at the presidential secretariat yesterday.

A number of local Industrialists were present at this discussion.

President Sirisena who pondered on the fact that a precise policy for economy can only be constructed when local businesses and local industries are strengthened, said that he would take all the necessary decisions to protect the local industries.

The President also motioned that strengthening local industries is important when providing benefits to the masses.

Detailed discussions were held regarding the decisions that should be taken for the progression of the local industries while protecting them. The attention was given for the mechanisms that should be taken to promote local milk powder industry, local biscuit industry, as well as local motor products. Discussions were also held regarding the issues pertaining to indigenous Ayurvedic industry and steps that should be taken on behalf of its progression.

During this meeting, the President has given instructions to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to not to allow any foreign investment that would be a challenge to local industries, while paying his attention regarding the difficulties faced by local businessmen due to the granting of permission to a foreign retail networks to engage in business in Sri Lanka.

The discussion was also focused on how the high interest rates have affected the domestic industries, and the President said already discussions have been held to launch a programme to provide relief to the local industries through state banks.

President Sirisena emphasized at this discussion that the contribution of the public sector as well as the private sector is very important when building the economy of the country.

The President said that he will take steps to appoint a committee comprising of representatives of all the government agencies and local businessmen to look into the solutions that can be provided to them.

Ministers Malik Samarawickrama, Rishad Bathiudeen, Lakshman Kiriella, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. Dr. R.H.S Samaratunga, Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy Industry and Commerce Secretary K.D.N. Ranjit Ashoka, Mrs. Chandani Wijewardana, Secretary, Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Mr. Ravindra Hewavitharana, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and others participated at this meeting.

Police fired teargas to disperse rioters in curfew-bound central Sri Lanka hours after a state of emergency was imposed in a bid to quell anti-Muslim violence, an official said Wednesday.

At least three police were wounded in the overnight clashes at Menikhinna, a suburb of Kandy, which has been a focus of the new trouble, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Seven people were arrested for breaking the curfew and trying to cause unrest in the multi-ethnic district, which is a popular tourist destination.

Schools across Kandy, 115 kilometres (72 miles) east of Colombo, remained closed Wednesday as the government ordered more troops to reinforce police and stop the unrest spreading.

Foreign governments issued travel warnings following Tuesday's declaration of a state of emergency which gives sweeping powers to police and security forces to arrest and detain suspects.

"The state of emergency may include curfews in specific locations," the British government said. "You should exercise caution, avoid protests and rallies, and comply with local security requirements."

The US State department told its citizens that further incidents were possible and advised those visiting the island to monitor local media for updates.

More than 150 homes, shops and vehicles were set ablaze during two days of rioting. Two people were also killed in the unrest.

Tensions rose on Tuesday as the body of a 24-year-old Muslim man was pulled out of a burnt building.

Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday issued an apology to the Muslim minority, which constitutes 10 percent of the country's population of 21 million.

"We want to apologise to the Muslim community for the inhuman acts that have taken place," state enterprise development minister Lakshman Kiriella said in parliament.

City planning minister Rauff Hakeem described the riots as a "monumental security lapse" and recommended disciplinary action against those responsible.

Riots erupted on Monday after a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority died at the hands of a Muslim mob last week.

Mobs set fire to Muslim-owned businesses and attacked a mosque in the east of the country last week after a Muslim chef was accused of adding contraceptives to food sold to Sinhalese customers.

Last November riots in the south of the island left one man dead and homes and vehicles damaged.

In June 2014 riots between Buddhists and Muslims left four dead and many injured. That bout of violence was instigated by a Buddhist extremist group whose leaders are on trial, accused of spurring religious conflict. (AFP)

The Government has decided to declare a State of Emergency island-wide for a period of 10 days to maintain law and order following violent incidents experienced in Digana and Theldeniya, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said a short while ago.

The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

In a twitter message today, former Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardene strongly condemned the recent violent clashes that erupted in the country and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

Inciting violence, hatred and threats against other citizens because of their diverse backgrounds is harmful for sustained peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Ridiculing their religious beliefs and destroying their properties is terrifying for the targeted groups and distressing for the law-abiding community members. A free nation shows its maturity by allowing minorities to enjoy the same rights and privileges the rest of the community is entitled to.

In June 1980, Sri Lanka acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and it came into force in September 1980. Article 17 of the ICCPR provides that “No person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation”, and “Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”. Article 20(2) states that "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law".

However, in practice, legislative measures have done little to address or deter the reasons for such unacceptable forms of behaviour. The international experience indicates that racial hatred legislation is not the answer to curb these situations. The use of community education in schools and local communities and mass public education campaigns better serve such purpose.

Since 2013, the violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka has become more frequent. The latest round of attacks has taken place in Ampara last week. An unsubstantiated rumour that tablets that could cause infertility had been either mixed or found mixed in a meal served by a wayside restaurant owned by a Muslim to a Sinhala customer has been the cause for these senseless attacks. This rumour has been debunked by many medical specialists including gynaecologists. However, the fact that it had gained traction shows that extremist and nationalist rhetoric have influenced the thinking of the ordinary people. The repercussions of this incident have become internationalised with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation expressing its deep concern about the developing situation.

The fundamentalists accuse Muslims of expansionism, pursuing an anti-Sinhala-Buddhist agenda through destroying their relics and heritage, building Mosques on Temple grounds/ruins, forcibly converting Buddhists, forcing Sinhalese out of business, taking over land and sanctuaries to expand the population, and using various methods such as mixing birth control/infertility medication with food items and underwear etc. to make Sinhala women barren. By handing out leaflets and sending inflammatory and spurious SMS messages and videos with inflammatory and spurious SMS messages and videos, the fundamentalists frequently whip up anti-Muslim sentiment throughout the island.

After a mosque and several shops owned by Muslims had been attacked, the situation has now been brought under control with the intervention of the security forces and certain civil society and religious entities. Attempts are also being made to establish an inter-faith peace committee to subdue tensions and maintain peace and unity of the communities. The security forces had taken measures to safeguard all vulnerable religious places of worship in the Ampara Town. The food in question that led to this issue had been referred to the government analyst for further investigation.

The question that must be asked is how could a mob initiate these violent incidents at a location not so far away from several camps of the Police, army, air force and the STF, and also attack some mosques situated further away from the location? Several arrests have been made allegedly in the midst of objections some Buddhist monks in the area had raised. Apparently, the person who claimed to have found the ‘pill’ in his meal has given a wrong address to the police and disappeared. Nevertheless, the Government has taken measures to launch a special investigation into the alleged initial inaction of the Police and them submitting an incomplete 'B' report. In addition, the government is to provide compensation for the damages caused to private property during this incident.

This incident carries the hallmarks of a well-planned covert attempt to disturb the peace, particularly in the wake of a grenade explosion a few days ago in a bus in Bandarawela, which was deliberately misinterpreted as being the work of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). The situation could have turned out much worse. The political affiliations of those who initiated this erroneous claim must be carefully looked into.

In this light, the future of the country depends on advancing national reconciliation by upholding the dignity of all ethnic groups and promoting inter-racial and inter-religious tolerance, as well as allaying the unfounded fears of the Sinhala people. The government actions to address the fear psychosis created by the recent incidents is awfully inadequate. The silence of the political leadership, particularly the President and the Prime Minister, is stunning and incomprehensible. Publicly declared commitment and proactive intervention of the political leadership are essential for managing such inflammable situations.

It could be said that people who have become increasingly alienated and angry due to their desperate situations have become tools of the far right racists. While there is no quick fix, a better solution would be to improve the socio-economic conditions that will help curtail such behaviours. A truly mature pluralistic society can be gauged by its capacity to meet intolerant opinions, attitudes and vile invective with tolerance, so long as they do not breach criminal laws of conduct. The best way to counter their scurrilous claims is by engaging in informed public dialogue and debate.

The Sri Lankan Government needs to proactively conduct an urgent inquiry to protect peace, establish the rule of law, take all those involved in violence into custody and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has also called upon the government to expeditiously investigate this incident. Unless the civil society and the government work together to bring the issues being rumoured into public debate, the non- majoritarian communities will continue to be harassed and subjected to further violence. And the ordinary people should be skeptical of the rumours and false propaganda publicised through social media to mislead and divide communities with devastating consequential violence.