Sinhala thugs attack Muslim shops in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 January 2009, 01:01 GMT]
Sinhalese hoodlums attacked Muslim shops in Poogoda in Gampaha district in the western province Sunday evening after a Muslim hotel owner had a Sinhalese customer arrested by local Gampaha police for violating hotel rules by bringing liquor inside hotel premises and serving to others, sources in Gampaha said.

Muslim hotel owner had called the Police promptly when the said customer refused to adhere to the hotel rules.

Sinhala thugs when notified of police refusal to release the customer, started pelting stones at several shops owned by Muslims in the area.

Although police took steps to diffuse tension between two communities, tension still prevails in the area, according to local residents.