Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapapkasa urges restraint in wake of coastal ethnic clashes

Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is attending the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the G77 + China in Bolivian capital Sucre, has appealed to all parties to exercise restraint in the wake of ethnic lashes back home claiming the lives of three people and injuring 75 others.

Responding to the clashes taking place in the coastal towns of Alutgama, Beruwela and Dharga, President Rajapaksa said that his government would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.

He also said that an investigation will be held into the incidents, and added that the law would take its course to bring those responsible to book.

The violence is said to have taken place between Buddhists and Muslims in southern Sri Lankan coastal towns,known to be huge tourist draws.

Media reports said that an uneasy calm continues to prevail in these areas, and added that there is a heavy police presence to ensure maintainence of law and order.

The Muslim community is said to be concerned about their safety.

A curfew has been imposed to prevent a further outbreak of violence.

Both Aluthgama and Beruwela are Muslim majority towns on the Sinhalese-dominated southern coast.

Clashes took place between the hardline Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Muslims.