Sri Lanka imposes new curfew as mosques attacked

Sri Lanka imposes new curfew as mosques attacked
# 13 May 2019 16:49 (UTC +04:00)

Sri Lanka widened a curfew on Monday after attacks on mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in the worst unrest since Easter bombings by Islamist militants and blocked Facebook and WhatsApp to stop people inciting violence, ONA reports citing Reuters.

The island nation has ramped up security as fears grow that minority Muslims among its population of 22 million could face sectarian violence after Islamist bombers blew themselves up in four hotels and three churches, killing more than 250 people.

Later on Monday, authorities extended the curfew to more villages in Kurunegala district to restore order.

Last month’s bombings claimed by Islamic State have shocked the island nation of 22 million people, more than 70 percent of whom are Sinhalese Buddhists and the rest Muslims, Hindus and Christians. Since the bombings, Muslim groups say they have received dozens of complaints about people being harassed.

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