THE Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has held the first regular Sunday Mass since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels killed more than 250 people. Military forces and police armed with assault rifles are patrolling the streets leading to churches and standing guard outside the compounds. Everyone entering is required to produce identity cards and is body searched. Parking is banned near the churches and officials have requested worshippers to bring along only minimum baggage.

 

 

Curfew in western coastal town after communal clashes: SRI Lankan police on Sunday imposed curfew with immediate effect in the country’s western coastal town of Chilaw after a mosque and few shops owned by Muslims were attacked by a mob, authorities said. The curfew has been imposed till 6 am Monday as a precaution, the police said.

 

 

Additional troops have been deployed in the city to bring the situation under control, they said. Police arrest Islamic preacher: A 47-year-old moulavi, an Islamic preacher, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo on charges of using social media platforms to air extremist views, the police said on Sunday. The suspect, a resident of Vavuniya, was arrested on Saturday morning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) upon his arrival from Mecca after performing Hajj, ‘The Daily Mirror’ reported.

 

 

The police said that the suspect was organising pilgrimage tours to Mecca. The moulavi has been remanded till May 14 after he was produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court a day before.