Sri Lanka’s main Muslim party today alleged role of an “external hand” behind a series of attacks on religious centres in the country in recent weeks. “With all our political experience we can seen an external hand to disturb the peace in the country,” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem said.
Muslim civil society groups had claimed that there have been several incidents of racial hatred attacks against the community in the last seven weeks.
They have also accused the police of inaction to prevent the attacks. “Those responsible for maintaining the law and order are being directed by an invisible hand,” Hakeem, who is also a government minister, told a gathering in the central town of Kandy.
Hakeem said the issue needs to be taken up with the highest levels of the government. “We will try to resolve the issue with talks internally,” he said.
Several centres of minority have been facing arson attacks since mid April.
The attacks were largely blamed on the Buddhist extremist group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).
-NIE (PTI)
-Agencies
