Police say calm restored

• Investigations into anti-communal attacks ongoing, curfew ends

Police yesterday said that calm had been restored to the North Western Province and Minuwangoda, but investigations into the anti-communal violence would continue. 

Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera, releasing a short statement, called on the public to assist the Police to apprehend people involved in the attacks, and requested anyone involved to present themselves at the nearest Police station. Gangs of men, some as large as five hundred according to eyewitnesses, rampaged through several districts on Monday, attacking dozens of Muslim shops and houses. The seemingly well-organised groups attacked houses and shops in several areas, including Bingiriya, Hettipola, Kuliyapitiya, Dummalasuriya, Kobeiganai, Nikawaratiya, Minuwangoda, and Panduwasnuwara.  Police earlier this week arrested and remanded 78 people, but Gunasekera in his update on Thursday did not divulge if any additional arrests have been made. 

“Intelligence officials have also been deployed to find people who were behind the violence. Given the peaceful situation, no curfew was imposed anywhere in the country. The decision to not impose curfew was made taking into account the majority of peaceful people who need to go about their work and earn a livelihood. However, Police and security forces remain on high alert to take any actions regarding unrest. Police will continue to take tough action against the perpetrators,” Gunasekera said. 

Meanwhile, a person identified as Mohammad Rizwan, who was suspected as having links to the Easter Sunday attackers, was arrested on Wednesday from the Mabola, Wattala area. Police are also working on a special security operation for Vesak.