COLOMBO, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police imposed a curfew in several towns in northwestern Kurunegala district on Monday following clashes which erupted between minority Muslims and majority Buddhists.
Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the curfew had been imposed in Kuliyapitiya, Bingiriya, Dummalasuriya, Hettipola, Rasnayakapura and Kobeigane from Monday afternoon and would remain in place till 4 a.m. local time Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses said several properties and mosques were damaged by mobs, while the police said additional security had been deployed on the streets to prevent further clashes.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a statement urged citizens to remain calm and not be swayed by false information.
"Security forces are working tirelessly to apprehend terrorists and ensure the security of the country, but each time there is civil unrest, we increase their burden and hamper ongoing investigations," he said.
Meanwhile the Information Department said several social media apps, including Facebook and Whatsapp, had been blocked from Monday morning to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Sri Lanka has been facing a threat of violence following the explosion attacks on April 21 which killed over 250 people and injured over 500.
The explosions targeted three churches and four luxury hotels.
The National Thawheed Jammath, a local radical group, has been blamed for the deadly attacks.
