Sri Lanka’s police called in a militant Buddhist monk for questioning on Wednesday after he was accused of instigating deadly anti-Muslim riots that heightened religious tensions in the ethnically divided nation.

Galagodaatte Gnanasara was summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department over a speech he made two weeks ago in the resort town of Alutgama where mobs attacked Muslim-owned shops and homes, police said.

“Other speakers who were at the same stage with the monk will also be questioned in due course,” said a statement, adding that a total of 117 people had been arrested in connection with the religious riots.

After five hours of questioning the monk was released, police said in a separate statement. They did not say whether authorities would press charges against him.

Four people were killed, 80 wounded and hundreds of shops and homes were damaged in the worst religious violence in the country in recent decades. The violence which started in Alutgama quickly spread to the adjoining beach resorts of Beruwala and Bentota.

Sri Lanka’s media as well as rights groups have accused the police of failing to take action against Buddhist mobs accused of attacking Muslims who constitute 10 per cent of the country’s 20 million population.   »»» Channel NewsAsia (Singapore)

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