Rishad strongly condemns burning of Muslim shop in Mawanella

Tuesday, 20 May 2014 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says the act is very dangerous; requests prompt action from Police

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday said that he condemns the torching of a Muslim-owned business in Mawanella on 18 May, while visiting the scene of the crime on Sunday.

Minister Bathiudeen said: “The hardware shop owned by a Muslim in Mawanella was torched on 18 May. When I visited the location of the incident, the Muslims of the area informed me that this was an intentional act by anti-Muslim elements to create tension between communities. I have instructed the Police in the area to take necessary action and to forward the incident to the Government Analyst immediately. We also call on the authorities to initiate immediate action and investigations to find the offenders. There have been several such acts in various other parts of the country targeting Muslim businesses. Such acts appear to be instigated in order to destroy the valuable peace that dawned in the aftermath of the 2009 victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. My party and I, the ACMC, strongly condemn this dangerous act.”