Police have arrested 41 curfew violators and those who caused violence in Alutgama on Sunday night which resulted in two deaths and 37 being hospitalised. The army has been deployed to assist the police to maintain law and order in those areas with effect from yesterday.
Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that police curfew re-imposed in Alutgama and Beruwala police areas from 12 noon yesterday after four hours break would continue till further notice.
“The police curfew was lifted from 8.00 am to 12 noon yesterday, but it was re-imposed to prevent further incidents,” he said, noting that unlawful assembly, holding rallies, and vehicular movement were forbidden during the curfew and instructions had been issued to take stern action against those who did not comply with the law.
SSP Rohana said that three police teams had been deployed by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and Kalutara Police Division to bring culprits to book in those two police areas.
He said that in addition security was tightened by the police and police commandos.
A police curfew was imposed in Alutgama and Beruwala police areas on Sunday evening to prevent clashes between two groups in Beruwala from spreading.
Clashes occurred after a protest march and rally against an attack on a Buddhist monk in the Dharga town on Poson Poya Day.
Some shops and houses were also gutted.
The situation had been brought under control, SSP Rohana said.
Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said that the army had been deployed in Alutgama, Welipenna, Dharga town, Beruwala and Maggona areas from yesterday on the request of police.
Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)
By Dasun Edirisinghe
