NEW YORK: The Human Rights Watch on Friday urged the Sri Lankan authorities to urgently investigate deadly violence against Muslims by Buddhist hardliners.
At least four Muslims were killed, 80 injured while their numerous homes and businesses were destroyed in the country’s southern resort towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala in communal violence that erupted between Buddhists and Muslims after a rally led by the Buddhist Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) on June 15.
The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Beruwala on Wednesday and promised that a probe would be carried out into the incident. He also assured that affectees of violence would be compensated.
The Human Rights Watch said that the Sri Lankan needs to seriously investigate who is responsible for the attacks on Muslim communities.
“Sri Lankan authorities need to do more than arrest those carrying out the anti-Muslim violence. They need to investigate and identify any instigators,” it said.
“That means taking a hard look at the role and relationship between extremist Buddhist groups like the BBS and the Sri Lankan security forces.”
