The 2019 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka were a series of religiously motivated riots targeting Muslims in Sri Lanka. The riots originated as isolated incidents in Chilaw, perpetrated in retaliation for the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings, eventually spreading to much of the North Western Province and its surrounding areas.
Muslim citizens, mosques and other properties were attacked by mobs of Sinhala Buddhist nationalists, and in at least one incident attacks were carried out by a Christian-majority mob. Only one death was reported, Saleem Ameer who was killed by a mob wielding swords. Other sources claimed 9 deaths, but said claims are unconfirmed. Other news agencies reported that over 540 Muslim-owned houses and properties were destroyed during the riots, in addition to upwards of 100 vehicles.
Similar to the anti-Muslim riots of 2018, locals in affected areas noted the arrival of outsiders in buses to participate in the rioting, raising suspicions that the riots had been coordinated in advance.
On 3 June 2019, all Muslim cabinet ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers resigned from their positions. At a media briefing, Minister Rauff Hakeem stated that the decision was made to allow space for thorough and unhindered investigations of alleged terror links of politicians..
As of 6 June 2019, propagation of hate speech and fake news has been made a crime, liable of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, a fine exceeding , or both. The move was proposed by Ranjith Maddumabandara in his capacity as Acting Minister of Justice, and approved by the cabinet decision.
Arrests On 14 May, Sri Lankan authorities arrested 23 people in connection with the riots. Amongst those remanded into custody was Amith Weerasinghe, the leader of the Sinhala-Buddhist group Mahason Balakaya, who was taken in for questioning regarding his role in the riots, and regarding his alleged racial and religious hate speech, posted and distributed through social media channels. Additionally, Namal Kumara, an anti-corruption activist previously involved with a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena was arrested.
On 18 May, Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara arrived at the office of the Deputy Inspector General, urging that the arrested rioters be released on bail; Weerashinge was subsequently granted bail, on two sureties of each. On 21 June, CEO of Derana Dilith Jayaweera was charged with violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, due to a controversial speech he made at a book launch.
Damage
According to the U.S. State Department's 2019 International Religious Freedom Report on Sri Lanka, police reported a total of 60 persons arrested in connection with the mob violence — though only nine arrests were made in Hettipola, 10 in Kuliyapitiya, and 14 in Minuwangoda, despite video evidence showing significantly larger mobs in these areas. Among those arrested were leaders of Sinhalese nationalist groups, including Amith Weerasinghe of Mahason Balakaya, Dan Priyasad of New Sinha Le, and Namal Kumara of the Anti-Corruption Front; all were subsequently released.
Anti-Muslim incidents Incidents On 28 April 2019, six unidentified individuals were arrested after they were caught planting false evidence at a Muslim man's house, when he was out for prayers. The group, who were not identified by news agencies, were in possession of explosives at the time of arrest. On 9 May, more than 1,000 Muslim refugees were evicted from their rented houses in Negombo, after landlords feared that mobs would attack their properties. According to Daily Mirror, there were 844 refugees and 826 asylum seekers in the country, in 2018. On the same day, 12 Muslim teachers of Puwakpitiya Tamil Maha Vidyalaya were transferred to other schools after they were chased away by parents. They wore the Abaya to school, and refused to wear the Sari. On 13 May, rioters destroyed and set houses and businesses on fire, and a vandalised a nearby mosque, after a Muslim man posted a comment on Facebook, that rioters mistook as a threat. The incident subsequently sparked more rioting in the wider region. On the same day, violent rioters destroyed the (US$4 million) Muslim-owned Roza Pasta Factory, which was Sri Lanka's largest pasta factory. Local witnesses stated 300-400 rioters entered the factory to set it on fire. Viral videos of incident show the large factory complex and machinery still burning hours after the rioting. Reports also claim that the Fire Department refused to douse the blaze and never arrived at the scene, stating that they are out of water. In a separate incident on 13 May, a mob slashed 45-year-old Jiffriya Ameer with swords and knives in front of his three children and wife, before pouring turpentine on his wounds and face. Mobs also set fire to their vehicle, which disabled them from reaching the hospital sooner. He was pronounced dead shortly after admission to the Puttalam Hospital. It was the first death relating to the anti-Muslim violence. In a TV address, Chief of the Sri Lanka Police Chandana Wickramaratne warned that police will take stern action against rioters, and constables have been issued orders to use maximum force. On May 14, a Muslim family doing tailoring business in Hunupitiya, consisting of a mother, three daughters, and five grandchildren was taken into protective custody after Sinhalese neighbours found out that they were in possession of orange cloth similar to clothing worn by Buddhist monks. After police failed to control the sword-wielding mob, the Special Task Force arrived and successfully rescued the family. By 16 May rioters were suppressed and the Government removed curfew. However isolated incidents were reported such as a Buddhist monk being caught on CCTV in Padiyathalawa, chasing out Sinhalese customers from a Muslim-owned clothes shop, and threatening the owners. The monk was not identified, and no further reports of the incident surfaced. On 21 May, a viral post shared by Sinhalese and a few local news companies claimed to show Muslim restaurant staff cleaning crockery in dirty drainage water. After being shared and viewed tens of thousands of times, the footage was subsequently proven by Agence France-Presse to be a foreign video from 2018. On 23 May, a Muslim passenger on SriLankan Airlines UL605 from Melbourne to Colombo was detained for reading the Quran inflight. The passenger was detained for 12-hours by CID after the crew reported the suspicious activity to ground staff. In a statement issued the airline denied any discrimination, and stated that they were following standard protocol. On 27 May, a woman who wore clothing that resembles the Dharmachakra was arrested. The woman could not obtain bail as she was arrested under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The arrest sparked controversy as many argued that the woman's clothing only resembled the wheel of a ship. On 3 June, three Muslim men were taken into protective custody after supporters of Athuraliye Rathana Thero beat them for failing to prove their identity, at the site of the monk's protest. On 17 June, chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana claimed that Buddhist women the doctor involved in the sterilisation controversy stoned and approved their statements. He also asked to boycott Muslim-owned shops, and for Sinhala-Buddhists to reject food offered by Muslims stating that it will lead to infertility. Despite violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and imposed local emergency laws, no action was taken against the senior monk. Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera condemned the monk's racially charged speech. On 24 June, SLPP member and Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha chairman K V Susantha Perera issued a controversial circular banning Muslim vendors from using the Dankotuwa Sathi marketplace. The circular further stated that the move was done to "preserve peace in the area". The Marawila Magistrate's Court subsequently ordered the chairman to provide further explanation on the ban. The Sri Lanka Police overturned the local government ban on 25 June, with the local police superintendent commenting that it was done to curb the spread of Islamaphobia. On 25 June, the Janaposha Foundation ceased the distribution of free meals to patients and visitors of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Kalubowila Hospital, and the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, citing safety concerns of staff. The decision was made after negative remarks by Minister Gamini Lokuge on the Foundation's links to Muslims. The Foundation began operations in 2012, and served approximately half a million free meals annually.
Release of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Buddhist hardline monk and general secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force) Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, was arrested in August 2018 for contempt of court to serve a 6-year sentence. Since 2014, the monk has also faced accusations in cases regarding anti-Muslim violence, hate speech, and defaming the Koran, and was also caught on video last year, plotting anti-Muslim attacks with the Mahason Balakaya, another Buddhist hardline group. He is also known to have signed a pact with Myanmar's Ashin Wirathu, a key figure in Myanmar's anti-Muslim riots and massacres.
On 18 May 2019, a senior official from the Department of Prisons confirmed that there was no plan of releasing the monk under presidential pardon on Vesak Poya Day, a Buddhist religious holiday, although 762 prisoners were expected to be released.
On 22 May 2019, in a shock move which were condemned by many including International Crisis Group, Gnanasara was released under a special presidential pardon by Maithripala Sirisena, without further comments from the president's office.
On 23 May 2019, Gnanasara made a public statement asking his supporters to be calm and to act judiciously for the sake of the country. He further went on to state that he will spend the rest of his days by following the Dhamma as a Buddhist monk. The following day, he attended a special meeting at the President's office.
On 28 May 2019, in another shock move, Gnanasara stated that "there is no time to rest, no time to engage in Dhamma and meditation; attaining nirvana can wait", and vowed to resume his activities as the BBS secretary.
On 2 June 2019, speaking to the media, Gnanasara promised to cause countrywide pandemonium () if the government does not take action on his demands of removing the controversial Muslim politicians from the parliament.
On 7 June Gnanasara's travel ban was temporarily lifted as he received a foreign scholarship and announced that he will leave Sri Lanka for studies.
Alleged collusion by security forces In Minuwangoda, police and armed forces were accused of allowing rioters get away with crimes, with at least one incident where police officers watched as rioters destroyed property.
Collusion by security forces has also been captured on CCTV, which purportedly show a soldier signalling towards a group of rioters and disappearing off screen, seconds before the group including officers, starts attacking a mosque. On 17 May, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake explained that the soldier had not invited the mob, but instead was fixing the strap of his firearm.
Causes The rioters initially attacked the Muslim population in retaliation of the Easter bombings, which saw a series of terror attacks carried out by ISIL-backed National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ). It subsequently escalated to the Islamophobic sentiment in the country, after more incidents and a number of rumour-based news articles worsened the situation. Fears of xenophobia were also evident in early June.