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Questioning the recently arrested leader of the Mahason Balakaya, Amith Weerasinghe has commenced sources say. He along with the other suspected arrested have been brought to Colombo for investigations Police said.

 According to state intelligence sources, Weerasinghe has created the group using the name of an elite Sri Lanka army troupe the ‘Mahason Balakaya’ to attract Sinhala youth and had formed the hardline organization with the help of several political stalwarts and leading Buddhist monks.

Investigations have also revealed that Weerasinghe had taken bribes from Sinhalese business owners promising that they will be protected by Mahason Balakaya while also saying that they will work towards shutting down Muslim owned businesses. The group is said to collect money from Sinhala businesses claiming that the funds will go towards its members around the country who are working against businesses owned by Muslims.

 Amith Weerasinghe, leader of the Sinhala hardline group Mahason Balakaya were seen in viral videos urging people to join them from the inception of the various incidents.

Recently the Colombo Telegraph also revealed that they were in possession of video evidence of Amith Weerasinghe, leader of the Mahason Balakaya, in conversation with a group including Buddhist monk Galagoda Atte Gnanasara of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), regarding carrying out attacks.

Weerasinghe is shown urging the crowd that ‘this is not the time to attack because we are not ready.’ He has argued that the plan of unnamed opponents was to get everyone arrested. He said that in Ampara there weren’t enough Sinhala people to bail out anyone who might get arrested.

However, Colombo Telegraph claimed it cannot confirm the exact date of this conversation.

Weerasinghe has been actively spreading misinformation and is known for hate speech against minorities. However, authorities had failed to initiate any action against him prior to the recent violence. He also manages a Mahason Balakaya Secretariat office in Digana while carrying out his activities unhindered by law enforcement agencies.

Having recognized the importance and urgency of implementation of Kirama Katuwana Water Supply Project and project for Augmentation of Water Pipelines along with the Orugodawatta Ambatale Road Development Project, the Government has secured funding arrangements with the UniCredit Bank of Austria and People's Bank, The MInistry of Finance said.

Accordingly, the UniCredit Bank has agreed to provide Euro 61 million (approximately LKR 11,285 million) in credit facilities for the implementation of the above two projects.

Under the Kirama Katuwana Water Supply Project, it is planned to construct a 3500m3/day water treatment plant and other necessary infrastructure to cater to the drinking water requirement of around 31,000 people living in Katuwana and Walasmulla Divisional Secretariat areas including semi urban communities in Kirama and Katuwana townships. The Austrian Government through the UniCredit Bank of Austria provides an interest free soft loan of Euro 10.48 million to finance this project.

The objective of the Augmentation of Water Pipelines along with the Orugodawatta Ambatale Road Development Project is to shift the existing more than 100 years old water utility pipe network laid along with the Orugodawatta – Ambathale road section into the utility corridor of the road which is being constructed. An Export Credit Facility amounting to Euro 50.6 million will be provided by the UniCredit Bank of Austria to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to finance 85% of the project cost.

The People’s Bank has agreed to provide the balance 15% of the project cost (approximately LKR 1,410 million).

Analysis: This week's clashes in Kandy are not random or isolated, and without incisive government action there is a strong chance of broader conflict.

By Champa Patel

The gutted remains of a Muslim business torched in Kandy on Wednesday EPA.

In the city of Kandy, located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, recent attacks against Muslims by Sinhala Buddhist militants have raised fears of increased communal violence. Social media images have shown the scale of damage to Muslim neighbourhoods, with arson attacks and vandalism of Muslim-owned stores and mosques. In response the government declared a 10-day state of emergency for the first time since the end of the civil war era.

What is clear is that the recent violence is not random or isolated. Just before these current attacks, there had been an earlier attack on a mosque and Muslim businesses in the south-eastern town of Ampara.

Hardline Buddhist groups use of social media clearly showed that these attacks were carefully planned drawing in Buddhist militants from surrounding areas.

Since the Sri Lankan civil war ended in 2009, an increasing religious divide has grown, with a rise of such militant Buddhist groups, such as Bodu Bala Sena. Tapping into longstanding insecurities that the Sinhalese and Buddhist nature of the country is under threat, these groups present Islam and Muslims as a religious, cultural and economic threat to the country. Such militant groups then use social media spaces to play on these fears, fuel tensions, and encourage, incite and plan violence.

While Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has temporarily blocked or restricted access to Facebook and other social media services this week, to curb ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric, this is not an ideal solution given its wider ramifications for free speech.

Hardline Buddhist groups are strengthened in their actions by a culture of impunity where they are not held accountable for any hate speech or violence. Even leaving side the current crisis, it is striking what little the Sri Lankan coalition government has actually done to hold people accountable for acts of violence against Muslim communities. Long-term approaches dealing with communal tensions seem thin on the ground.

There is an urgent need for a strong response from the Sri Lankan government that ensures perpetrators of violence are held accountable for their actions. A relatively small number of militant Buddhist groups are having a disproportionate impact on local communities. If the government does not take a stronger stance – enforcing hate speech laws and arresting and prosecuting those responsible – there is a strong chance that increasingly we will see more targeted violence against Muslim communities and further communal conflict.

Champa Patel is head of the Asia-Pacific programme at Chatham House

All foreign tourists in Sri Lanka could use their passport as a curfew pass during hours of curfew, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) announced today.

The SLTDA also said that they are currently working with all industry stakeholders to ensure that the recent developments in the Kandy District cause minimal inconvenience to tourists and travellers.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said action will be taken to pay compensation to the victims affected by the unrest in several areas in the Kandy district.

He added that compensation will be paid and completed soon.The Prime Minister also called up each and every citizen of the country to live in peace and harmony while maintaining law and order.

Making a special statement over the situation in the Kandy district, the Premier added that inciteful messages being shared on social media had led to the spread the unrest in the district.

“It seems that communal messages being shared on social media have led to the spread of riots and the government decided to block social media networks temporarily to contain this situation”, he said.

The Prime Minister added that police is now questioning a number of individuals who were involved in spreading hatred and violence on social media.

The Public Administration Minister was appointed as the Minister of Law and Order by President Maithripala Sirisena upon my recommendation and he is taking every effort to maintain law and order in the country.

He said that he had an extensive discussion about the current situation with the new Law and Order Minister, Ministry Secretary and Chief of Defence Staff and instructed them to take further steps to ensure peace in the area.

Necessary instructions have already been issued to the relevant officials to continue the supply of essential commodities to the Kandy district unabated.He said that these acts of violence perpetrated by a few saboteurs have caused immeasurable damage to the society and the economy of the country. “These incidents of violence put the country into disrepute”, the PM said.

The Premier added that the people who faced untold hardships due to 30 years protracted conflict in the country want to live in peace and harmony.“It is our responsibility to ensure the protection of lives and properties of each and every citizen of the country”, he said.

Source : Daily News

Officers from the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) have arrested the main suspect accused of instigating the incidents in Kandy, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said. He further said that 9 other suspects were also arrested in connection to the clashes that took place in Kandy.

A 12 hour Police curfew has also been reimposed in the Kandy administrative district from 6 pm today to 6 am tomorrow (09), the spokesman announced.

The violence occurred in the Ampara and Kandy districts during the last two weeks, which involved deaths, and destruction to properties and places of worship of the Muslim community, is a reflection and an outcome of the alarming Islamophobia developing in Sri Lanka over several years now, the Global Tamil Forum said in statement today.

The statement further states that,

“While expressing our solidarity with the Muslim people of Sri Lanka, we are conscious of the parallels between the struggles the Muslim community faces today and what the Tamil community was subjected to over several decades – systematic vilification of a minority community, unscrupulous exploitation of the situation by power hungry politicians and religious leaders, unwillingness of the security establishment to act in a timely and impartial manner, and the inability of the government leaders to show unwavering commitment to protect minorities without resorting to self-serving political considerations.

It is precisely these conditions culminating in periodic anti-Tamil pogroms, which ultimately led to the three-decade long civil war, the effects of which the country is still struggling to overcome. In this context, Sri Lanka once again going down the same path, vis-a-vis the Muslim community, can only spell disaster and potentially take the country backwards by decades.

Therefore, GTF calls upon the Sri Lankan leaders to take stern action, with full force of the law, not only against those directly involved in the violence but also targeting those instigating falsehood and hatred. It is equally important that the political and religious leaders of all communities, particularly those of the Sinhala Buddhist community, strongly articulate against religious prejudices and communal violence. Finally, the international community has to impress upon Sri Lanka in no uncertain terms that the country will never achieve its full potential without settling its ethnic and religious differences in a peaceful and just manner.”

The European Union has expressed deep concerns on the recent spate of attacks on communities and called for the government to take urgent action against hate crimes while ensuring that all perpetrators of such actions are swiftly brought to justice.

The statement by the EU ambassadors in Sri Lanka is as follows;

"The recent attacks on communities are very worrying. It is important that the Government and the security forces take urgent action against hate crimes and ensure that the perpetrators of such actions are swiftly brought to justice. It is vital that all political leaders, religious and other community leaders condemn violence and make every effort to promote understanding and harmony between communities. The EU trusts that any actions taken under the State of Emergency will be proportionate and respect constitutional rights and freedoms."

The recent incidents of violence in Kandy cannot be considered as an isolated incident sats the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission.

In a letter addressed to the President, the commision noted that starting from the incident in Gintota to the recent events in Ampara shows a trend of incidents being instigated to create hate between the various communities living in the country.

 Pre Planned attacks by outsiders:

The commission also claimed that in its initial investigations it has been revealed that based on one incident, outsiders have planned and organized these attacks to incite racial hate and violence.

In the letter, they noted that the individual who died due to the attack on February 22 had been cordial with Muslims and Sinhalese people living in the area.

“However, it is observed that action is being taken to spread terror, disunity and hostility among communities in the country due to incitements and criminal acts committed by organized outside elements,” the HRC said.

"Enforce the law"

The letter also brought the President’s attention to the fact that how over the past few years, some of the social networking sites have been used to constantly publish and spread hate statements in a manner that incites the country’s citizens.

While hate and violent speech is a criminal offence under the provisions of the Penal Code of Civil Procedure Act No.56 of 2007 and the Code of Criminal Procedure Act the HRC emphasized the need to enforce the law against those who commit acts of hate speech.

The HRC also said the law should be enforced against those, directly and indirectly, connected to these acts despite their race, economic, political and societal standings.

Despite curfew being imposed in the Kandy district, the public allege that destructive forces continue to run rampage ignoring the imposed curfew and the Police along with the armed forces.

When questioned by ISIS news, a senior officer of the Police said despite a state of emergency being imposed the government nor the security forces have given the Police clear instructions on how to act.

According to the officer the Police are now reluctant to act according to powers given to them as those who have so acted are now in prison. “The Police can resolve these in a day or two” he said adding that however the IGP too has not provided any clear instructions in this regard. “He only bothers about meditating and the Police does not have a proper leadership anymore” he said. According to him therefore the Police have become mere witnesses to the incidents.

Permission granted to shoot into the air:

However sources say permission has been granted to shoot into the air using rubber bullets and the President has given instructions in this regard to the security forces.

“The Police are helping the racists” : Min. Rishard

 Minister Rishard Badurdeen has however alleged that the Police are helping the racist mobs.

He said these incidents are unfortunate and what happened to the tamils should not happen to the muslims as well.

According to him some mosques were attacked as the Police watched on.

“IGP and PM must be held responsible for the situation in Kandy”: Gnanasara Thera

 According to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera of the Bodu Bala Sena the PM and the IGP are responsible for the recent communal clashes in Kandy.

“If the message that those responsible for the Teldeniya person’s death were brought to book by the Police was given to the public these incidents could have been avoided,” he said.

The Election Commission said that the list of members elected from the recently held Local Government Elections would be gazetted today.

The Local Government Election polls were held on February 10 to select members to 340 Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Releasing a statement on the recent communal violence in Sri Lanka the US Embassy in Colombo noted that Rule of law, human rights, and equality are essential for peaceful coexistence. The communique issued by the embassy also stressed that 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.