60 arrested over recent violence

• Three suspects were arrested in Matara on charges of inciting racism via  social media platforms. They were also remanded till May 27

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Tony Karunanayake

  
More than 60 people were arrested in connection with the violence in the North-Western Province and in Minuwangoda, 33 of them were remanded, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said yesterday.   

He said nine suspects who were found to have been directly involved in violence were remanded till May 27 after being produced in the Hettipola Magistrate’s Court while 10 more suspects were remanded till May 27 after being produced in the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court and the remaining 14 suspects were arrested in Minuwangoda and remanded till May 29 after being produced in the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court.   

Meanwhile, three suspects were arrested in Matara on charges of inciting racism via social media platforms. They were also remanded till May 27.   

 SP Gunasekera said Police personnel and tri-forces personnel were deployed in the areas where tension prevailed and that they had been instructed to take strict action against the lawbreakers.   

Several shops, houses and religious places were damaged when mobs attacked them and set ablaze in several areas in the North Western Province and in Minuwangoda.   
It was reported that an individual was reported to have been killed during the violence.   

Following the violent incidents, the police curfew which was imposed in the North Western Province for nearly 24 hours from Monday evening, was lifted for two hours last evening.   

Police lifted the curfew imposed in the North-Western Province from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm yesterday. However, the curfew was re-imposed from 6.00 pm yesterday until 6.00 am today.   

The curfew imposed in the Gampaha Police Division was lifted at 6.00 am while the curfew imposed in other parts of the country was lifted at 4.00 am yesterday. However, police curfew was reimposed last night across the country from 9.00 pm to 4.00 am today while curfew was imposed in the Gampaha Police Division from 7.00 pm yesterday to 6.00 am today. 

Three suspects were arrested in Matara on charges of inciting racism via  social media platforms. They were also remanded till May 27