Over 60 arrested in Sri Lanka after violent clashes

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - More than 60 people have been arrested after violent clashes erupted in Sri Lanka on Monday, police said in a statement on Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that several people were being questioned and 33 out of those arrested had been further remanded.

Gunasekara said that a curfew would be reimposed for the second consecutive night across the island which, beginning from 9 pm local time Tuesday to 4 am Wednesday. This was intended to prevent further clashes.

Gunasekera also said that more than 80 people were in custody as of Tuesday evening.

The North Western province was also severely affected by violence.

Security remained heightened across the island since Monday as several Muslim mosques, houses and businesses were burned and damaged by angry mobs.

One person was killed.

On Wednesday, authorities said Wednesday they had the situation "under control", according to Agence France-Presse.

Fears of ethnic violence have been growing in Sri Lanka following the April 21 terror attacks on churches and hotels, which killed over 250 people and injured 500 others.

"The situation is now totally under control," said Military spokesman Sumith Atapattu. "There were no incidents of violence overnight and we are arresting groups of people responsible for taking part in mob attacks."

Military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said security forces were arresting small groups of suspected troublemakers and handing them over to police.

They were being held under emergency laws under which convicts can be jailed up to 10 years, police spokesman Gunasekera said.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a statement released on Monday evening, urged people to remain calm and adhere to the laws.

He said security forces had been entrusted with maintaining law and order and he requested the public to abide by their instructions to ensure peace is maintained.

(China Daily 05/16/2019 page11)