Pandemonium reigned in and around Maradana after Friday’s Jumma prayers at the Zahira College Mosque, yesterday when thousands of Muslims gathered to stage a protest over what they termed demeaning statements made by Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka against the Muslim Community on numerous occasions.

All Muslim shops in Colombo were closed from yesterday morning. The protesters set fire to a picture of Ranawaka and shouted slogans condemning him.

When Police intervened and requested them to disperse peacefully in view of large traffic jam caused by their gathering, the crowd turned abusive at the Police and there was pandemonium in and around the Maradana junction. All shops in the area put up shutters. A group of unruly youths were seen pelting stones at the Police.

Apart from their anger at Ranawaka’s statements they were annoyed that a Muslim girl had been barred from attending the Baron Jayatillake Vidyalaya at Maligawatte wearing the Hijab, the traditional Muslim dress for girls.

They were also angered over an incident where a group of people had told Borella Mosque authorities to stop reciting the Islamic prayers five times a day over loud speakers since it was a disturbance to others.

Commenting on yesterday’s incident, former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Azath Salley said he did not approve of the incidents. "When someone wants something done it could always be achieved through negotiations, without resorting to violence," Salley said.

He alleged that a Sri Lankan Muslim who was recently deported from America was behind these incidents and was instigating the Muslims to indulge in violence.