Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem has expressed concern over the lack of action that has been taken so far regarding repeated attacks on mosques, a spokesman said.

A violent mob had attacked a mosque in the Grandpass area last night, leaving at least five people injured and damaging several nearby houses.

Police curfew imposed in Grandpass was lifted this morning as scores of police, including anti-riot squads and elite Special Task Force commandos, continue to remain on alert in the area.

Minister Rauf Hakeen had been engaging in election campaigning in Kandy at the time of the incident in Grandpass, the SLMC leader’s media spokesman Dr. A. R. A. Hafeez told Ada Derana.

He stated that the minister had immediately contacted the OIC of the Grandpass Police Station to inquire regarding the incident and steps taken to control it.

Minister Rauf Hakeem also called the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to request for tight security for the mosque in Grandpass as well as nearby homes and an extensive investigation into the attack.   

The IGP in turn had assured that necessary police protection will be provided to the area and that a ‘peace committee’ would convene in Grandpass today to discuss the issue and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Hekeem’s spokesman further said that the SLMC leader had cut short campaign activities for the upcoming Provincial Council election and had travelled back to Colombo last night, however was unable to visit Grandpass due to the curfew imposed by police.

The minister has also temporarily canceled SLMC campaign activities and is expected to hold talks with all Muslim Ministers in the country, Dr. Hafeez said.