Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018

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Details

Place: Digana, Teldeniya and surrounding areas, Kandy district
Trigger: The death of a Sinhalese man who had been beaten by Muslim men in a traffic dispute, according to Al Jazeera
Damage: Mosques, dozens of homes and businesses torched or destroyed; at least two people died, according to Al Jazeera
Response: The government deployed the army, declared a state of emergency and blocked internet access
Arrests: Police said they had arrested more than 300 people involved in the riots, according to Reuters on 25 March 2018
Appears on: Communal violence and state force, 2013 to 2019

Connections (6)

Attacks on Muslim businesses in Ampara, February 2018 / Followed by / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018
- Al Jazeera reports that the Kandy district violence of March 2018 followed the February attacks in Ampara; analysts linked the tensions to false rumours that Muslims were trying to reduce the Sinhalese population.13 Mar 2018 · Al Jazeera · In Sri Lanka, hate speech and impunity fuel anti-Muslim violence
Amith Weerasinghe / Posted a video the day before the mobs struck; arrested and remanded afterwards / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018Allegation
- Al Jazeera reports that a day before the mobs struck he filmed a video in Digana saying leaflets had been distributed and that Sinhalese should come to Digana; authorities arrested him and nine associates, and critics said the arrests were too little, too late.13 Mar 2018 · Al Jazeera · In Sri Lanka, hate speech and impunity fuel anti-Muslim violence
- Ada Derana reports that the Theldeniya Magistrate’s Court remanded 32 suspects arrested over the violence in Digana, including him, until 5 May 2018. The article names no charges. Neither article carries a response from him.23 Apr 2018 · Ada Derana · 32 including Amith Weerasinghe further remanded
Sri Lanka Police / Shown on CCTV letting a group pass a cordon at a mosque; police say a unit is probing its deficiencies / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018Allegation
- Reuters reports that CCTV footage it reviewed shows police letting a large group pass a cordon protecting the Noor Jummah mosque in Digana and police in riot gear hitting an imam and a scholar with batons at the Hijrapura mosque. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said a special unit was probing the deficiencies of the police and a second unit was examining the role of political actors.25 Mar 2018 · Reuters (via Al Jazeera) · CCTV shows Sri Lankan police aid anti-Muslim riots
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) / Accused by the law and order minister of involvement; denies it / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018Allegation
- Reuters reports that the law and order minister called the violence “well organised” and blamed the party, that the Cabinet spokesman said a local party politician and at least three others were under investigation and a councillor had been arrested for setting fire to a mosque, and that all deny involvement. The politician shown on the footage said he was trying to calm the rioters.25 Mar 2018 · Reuters (via Al Jazeera) · CCTV shows Sri Lankan police aid anti-Muslim riots
Mahinda Rajapaksa / Called the accusations against his party politically motivated / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018
- Reuters reports that the former president called the accusations politically motivated.25 Mar 2018 · Reuters (via Al Jazeera) · CCTV shows Sri Lankan police aid anti-Muslim riots
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka / Concluded, in a draft report, that the attacks were a coordinated effort by extremist groups / Anti-Muslim violence in Kandy district, March 2018Allegation
- Sunday Observer reports that a draft of the commission’s report, obtained under the Right to Information Act and still unpublished as of 2 March 2025, concluded that the attacks were a coordinated effort by extremist groups targeting the Muslim community, that some individual officers may have been complicit but the security forces as a whole did not facilitate the violence, and that the failure to contain it was attributed to intelligence shortcomings, limited resources and an insufficient police force. It names Mahason Balakaya among the groups promoting extremist ideas.2 Mar 2025 · Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) · HRCSL report reveals police weaknesses, delays and intelligence gaps