Anti-Muslim rioting has flared up in central Sri Lanka despite a state of emergency, with Buddhist mobs burning mosques and Muslim-owned shops in at least two towns.
The police ordered a curfew across much of the region for a third day on Wednesday in a bid to calm the situation.
One resident, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal attacks, said two mosques and some Muslim-owned shops were attacked in two towns in the central hills.
The extent of the damage could not be verified.
Meanwhile an internet company official says the government has ordered social media networks to be blocked in an attempt to stop the spread of violence.
The official said Facebook, Instagram, Viber and WhatsApp were blocked in the central hills, scene of the violence. Outside of that region, though, many people were also unable to access the social media sites.
Anti-Muslim riots began on Monday after a Buddhist Sinhalese man died after reportedly being attacked by a group of Muslim youths.
Sri Lanka has long been divided between the majority Sinhalese, who are overwhelmingly Buddhist, and minority Tamils who are Hindu, Muslim and Christian.
Share
