The Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has severely condemned attacks that took place in Ampara town yesterday morning.
The attacks targeted a Mosque and Muslim owned businesses in Ampara town and began spreading early this morning, the Minister said.
Minister Bathiudeen, during yesterday’s(27) Cabinet meeting called on the government to take “immediate and strict action” on the Ampara wrongdoers. He also said that the Ampara Police personnel were idly standing-by and looking on as the attacks continued to rage and condemned the inaction. He said the government should compensate for the losses.
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A mosque, a lodging place adjoining the mosque, several small shops close to the mosque, a street-side hotel, and several vehicles – all belonging to Muslims- were set alight by a group of men on the early hours of 27 February after an argument erupted between some men and the owner of a street-side hotel in Ampara town.
It is reported that the angry men, after the argument, attacked the hotel. They also made phone calls using their mobiles, and thereafter, many more men arrived and started torching properties of Muslims in the vicinity.
Minister Bathiudeen also informed Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take action against the wrongdoers and punish them.
