Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency amid violence against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. In recent days, members of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist majority have torched mosques, homes and businesses owned by Muslims. The state of emergency is the first to be declared since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009. This is Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

President Maithripala Sirisena: “I condemn all the violent incidents that have taken place. Not only do I condemn the violence, I have also instructed the police to take maximum action against individuals, organizations and/or groups involved in those violent acts.”