Several dozen people threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned stores and a man was beaten in the Christian-majority town of Chilaw in a dispute that started on Facebook.
Colombo - Sri Lanka is temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, it said on Monday after attacks on mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in the worst unrest since Easter bombings by Islamist militants.
Authorities said they arrested the author of a Facebook post, identified as 38-year-old Abdul Hameed Mohamed Hasmar, whose online comment "1 day u will cry" people said was interpreted as threatening violence. Military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said people in the mostly Buddhist district then demanded the arrested men's release.Several mosques and Muslim homes were damaged in the attack in the district, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said, but the precise extent of damage and the number of arrests was not immediately clear.
Since then, Muslim groups say they have received dozens of complaints about people being harassed. Other communities say they fear the government, which failed to act on successive warnings about looming Islamist attacks, has not caught all potential militants."Social media blocked again as a temporary measure to maintain peace in the country," Nalaka Kaluwewa, director general of the government information department, told Reuters on Monday.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Newsdeck: Sri Lanka blocks social media platforms after Muslim shops, mosques attackedCOLOMBO, May 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka said on Monday it was temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, after mosques and Muslim-owned businesses were attacked in the wake of Easter bombings by Islamist militants.
Read more »
Church calls for calm after Christian, Muslim clashes in Sri LankaVideos circulated on social media showed mobs throwing stones at Muslim businesses, destroyed furniture inside homes, shattered windows and overturned vehicles.
Read more »
Social media blocked as Muslim shops, mosques attacked in Sri Lanka - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.Sri Lanka said on Monday it was temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps after mosques and Muslim-owned businesses were attacked.
Read more »
Muslims afraid, resentful as ethnic divide deepens in Sri Lanka'The suspicion towards them (Muslims) can grow and there can be localised attacks,' said Jehan Perera of non-partisan advocacy group, the National Peace Council. 'That would be the danger.'
Read more »
New arrest throws a spotlight on Wahhabism in Sri Lanka hotbedSaudi-educated scholar Mohamed Aliyar has been arrested over links with the suspected ringleader of the Easter Sunday bombings
Read more »
All suspects in Sri Lanka bombings arrested or dead - acting police chiefSri Lankan authorities have said the bombings were believed to have been carried out by two little-known local Islamist groups, the National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI).
Read more »
Grieving man barred from leaving Sri Lanka after wife dies on honeymoon | IOL NewsA grieving husband whose bride died on their honeymoon has been banned from coming home to Britain.
Read more »
Church calls for calm after Sri Lanka clashesA few hundred extra troops and police were deployed late Sunday as authorities imposed a night-time curfew in the town.
Read more »
Sri Lanka tourism takes a hit after bombingsTourism has suffered as tourists from around the world cancelled hotel and flight bookings fearing more attacks.
Read more »
IEC grants Muslim voters special voteMuslims have started observing the holy month of Ramadan.
Read more »