Three weeks after Sri Lanka witnessed multiple suicide bombings, that killed over 260 people, the nation imposed a curfew following the rise of anti-Muslim riots where a Muslim man was killed while a dozen mosques and shops were decimated.
As the country goes through worst phases cricketers like Kumar Sangakkara has urged the citizens for peace.
“STOP. BREATHE. THINK. OPEN YOUR EYES. If we lose ourselves in violence, racism, thuggery and hatred we lose our country. Unite as Sri Lankans, be peaceful, keep each other safe. Do not give into shameful, divisive political agendas. WE HEAL AND RISE TOGETHER AS ONE NATION,” wrote the former left-handed batsman on his twitter page.
The communal unrest started on Sunday after a group of people entered the Chilaw town after a Facebook post by a Muslim shopkeeper about “an attack plan”. Reports claimed that many threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned shops.
Rauff Hakeem, a Cabinet minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, confirmed that the Muslim man was hacked to death. “Mobs had attacked him with sharp weapons at his carpentry workshop,” a police official told AFP.
“There will be a lot of innocent lives lost from all races and religions if we all spread hatred. Please let’s not go back to 1983. Let us unite think of our kids and save our beautiful country,” tweeted Angelo Mathews, who is part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup 2019 squad. Later, former captain and Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene also tweeted, appealing for peace. (with inputs from Times now)
