Parts of Sri Lanka remain under indefinite curfew

Colombo, May 14 

Nearly 24 persons were arrested on Tuesday even as parts of Sri Lanka were under indefinite curfew after a man was killed by majority Sinhalese mobs who set on fire Muslim-owned shops and vehicles and vandalised mosques in an escalating backlash following the Easter terror attacks.

The government on Tuesday relaxed nationwide night curfew in all areas except the northwestern province where the Muslim man was killed by a mob on Monday.

Sri Lanka Police imposed island-wide curfew on Monday as anti-Muslim violence broke out in the northwestern province spread to other areas in the country as well.

Majority Sinhalese mobs set fire to Muslim-owned shops and vehicles. Homes and mosques were also vandalised by large groups of people armed with sticks and weapons. The government also reimposed a ban on social media following the violent clashes. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said the military had been asked to quell the anti-Muslim riot and sought public cooperation. —  PTI