Indian party protests anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka

Reuters: A regional Indian party protested in southern Chennai city on Saturday (17 March) over the recent violence against minority Muslim community by members of majority Buddhist community in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka declared a 10-day nationwide emergency early this month to stop the spread of communal violence that began in central district of Kandy on March 04 following the death of a Buddhist youth in an altercation with a group of Muslims. Buddhist mobs attacked mosques and businesses belonging to Sri Lanka’s minority Muslims.

Protesters carrying flags and placards poured out on roads while policemen surrounded them with barricades. Chief coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi party, Seeman, alleged that the international community and India had been mute spectators to the atrocities and did nothing to deplore it.

Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalizing Buddhist archaeological sites. Muslims make up about 9 percent of Sri Lanka’s 21 million people and Buddhists make up about 70%.