The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed her "deep alarm" at attacks against Muslims by Sinhalese mobs in Sri Lanka, which are thought to have killed at least 3 Muslims and left over 80 injured in Aluthgama, a town in the South of the island.

“The Government must urgently do everything it can to arrest this violence, curb the incitement and hate speech which is driving it, and protect all religious minorities,” said High Commissioner Pillay.

Cuban President Raul Castro has hailed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a meeting held on the sidelines of the G77 summit in Bolivia yesterday.

But, before opting for “the Sri-Lankan method” to deal with an insurgency, Nigeria would do well to examine what that actually means.

Sri Lanka's war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), particularly in its final stages in 2009, caused tremendous and unnecessary human suffering.

The military repeatedly and indiscriminately shelled the area, including a government-declared "no-fire zone" and hospitals trying to care for the sick and wounded.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Indian government is committed to finding a permanent solution to the issue of attacks and arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Adding that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is also of the view that the arrests should not be taking place, Sitharaman said,

“The Centre is committed to find a permanent solution to the problem. Talks are on with Lankan officials… We are constructively working for a long term solution to the issue.”

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has slammed ‘foreign interferences’ for causing ‘chaotic’ situations, whilst at a meeting on the sidelines of the G77 summit in Bolivia.

Rajapaksa was meeting with Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob, when he said,

“We must work together to overcome obstacles including unjustified external forces... The situations of the countries which were subjected to foreign interferences are worse today than before. Those countries are more chaotic, and it is the only thing that had happened.”

He went on to state that Sri Lanka had developed and was now at “peace”, adding,“The only ones who are unhappy are the politicians and forces against the country”.

Muslim property ablaze in Aluthgama (Picture: BBC Sinhala)

Several Muslim owned shops have been burnt down in the town of Aluthgama on Sunday, after a rally by Sinhalese in the town resulted in clashes.

The rally was organised after reports that a monk was attacked by a Muslim man emerged last week, with a subsequent protest by Sinhalese residents seeing several Muslim shops attacked.

According to The Republic Square, another rally earlier today resulted in further violence, after Muslims threw stones at the Sinhalese rally, with Sinhalese mobs later roaming the streets, attacking Muslim businesses and mosques.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted in English and Sinhala that an investigation into the incidents in Aluthgama will be conducted to hold those responsible to account, urging all parties to act with restraint.

The Government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. I urge all parties concerned to act in restraint. -MR (1/2)

— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) June 15, 2014

An investigation will be held for law to take its course of action to bring to book those responsible for incidents in Aluthgama. -MR (2/2)

— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) June 15, 2014

Bodu Bala Sena leader Gnanasara threatened violence against Muslims at the rally, before the clashes.

“In this country we still have a Sinhala Police, we still have a Sinhala Army. After today, if a single Marakkalaya (Muslim) or some other paraya (alien) touches a single Sinhalese...it will be their end,” the leader of the BBS, a group made up of Buddhist monks, said .