Sri Lanka extends curfew after religious clashes

Sri Lanka has imposed an indefinite curfew on two of its southern towns following violent clashes between a hardline Buddhist group and Muslims.

The clashes broke out during a rally lead by Buddhist monks in protest of an earlier incident of violence against a monk by the Muslim group.

According to the BBC, several people are reported to have been injured, shops burned and stones thrown at Buddhist marchers during the rally in Aluthgama.

Meanwhile, the curfew that was initially imposed on Aluthgama was later extended to Beruwala, a predominantly Muslim area.

The report further added that eyewitness accounts tell of Muslims being pulled off local buses and beaten. There are also reports of looting.