At least 7 buildings including a mosque and a petrol shed damaged following a communal violence erupted by a group of thugs in Weligama, Matara last night. Two Sinhala people were arrested over the incident.
According to reliable sources, the reason for the incident was a personal fight between 2 Muslim youth and 3 Sinhalese boys last evening. However, this quarrel was over in the same place immediately. But, later, around 7.00pm, a group of Sinhalese people started a new argument front of a Muslim hotel and damaged its properties. This also came to an end while paving the way for several incidents including severely beating two Muslim youth by a group of people and snatching Rs.10, 000.00 from them by 8.00pm.
Since, Muslims of this area have not reacted against these thugs; the situation was seems to be normal. However, they (thugs) organized a large group by adding more people from adjoining Sinhala villages. This group entered the area again targeting to attack mosques and properties of Muslims. First, they moved into the Meera Sahibu Jummah Mosque in Old Street, Weligama and damaged its properties including windows, lightings and other properties around 11.30pm.
More people joined this team and decided to enter into the city to attack the commercial properties of Muslims. By 12.30 am, this group attacked the petrol shed of Al haj M Hussain, father of S H Mohamed, Weligama Urban Council Chairman. This attacked has led to pool a large number of police forces from surrounding police stations and control the situation. Now police protection has given to every mosque in this area.