The police came under heavy criticism for its failure to impose order and its alleged hesitation in preventing property damage at the start of the riots . Several government and opposition MPs criticized the police and its decision-making , while others called for calm and harsh punishments to perpetrators of racially motivated violence . A group of Sinhalese Buddhist citizens and Buddhist clergy held a protest outside the Digana police station on 6 March demanding the release of all suspects arrested for their involvement in the riots . The government and the opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna alleged an organized , political effort to inflame sectarian tensions in Kandy . The Bodu Bala Sena , at the center of the 2014 riots , accused the public of unfairly linking it to incidents of communal violence in the country as BBS was earlier accused and criticised by the critics and other political leaders for aggravating the violence between Muslims and Buddhists , which was later revealed that Bodu Bala Sena was unnecessarily blamed for the incident . BBS Secretary General Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara visited the assault victim 's home on 4 March , and claimed he had urged residents of the area to remain calm
2014 riots
2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka
2018 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka