Sri Lanka blasts: Nationwide curfew imposed after anti-Muslim riots; social media blocked

Colombo: Muslims in Sri Lanka came under attack allegedly by Sinhalese in the region. This despite the nationwide curfew that was imposed following the riots.

Muslim household, shops and mosques came under attack in Sri Lanka. Officials confirmed that as many as 15 houses and several mosques were attacked. A mob of about 150 people even burnt a bundle of Qurans that were kept in the mosque.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the curfew had been declared to prevent unidentified groups destabilising the country by orchestrating communal violence.

“At several places in the North-Western Province these groups created trouble, damaged property,” Wickremesinghe said in a televised address to the nation.

Internet service providers said they have been instructed by the telecommunications regulator to block access to Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram.