Sangakkara, Jayawardene speak up in support of Sri Lankan Muslims

Sri Lankan cricket legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have condemned the anti-Muslim violence in their country that has so far killed at least three people and damaged dozens of mosques and homes.

Over 200 homes, businesses and vehicles were torched during three days of violence in Kandy, which erupted on Monday and escalated the following day when a Muslim man was found dead in a burned building.

Sangakkara, who is currently playing Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), condemned the violence on Twitter, saying, "It is unfair to target anyone on the basis of ethnicity or religion.”

No one in Sri Lanka can be marginalized or threatened or harmed due to their ethnicity or religion. We are One Country and One people. Love, trust and acceptance should be our common mantra. No place for racism and violence. STOP. Stand together and stand strong.

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) March 7, 2018

His former teammate Jayawardene also condemned the violence in strong words.

I strongly condemn the recent acts of violence & everyone involved must be brought to justice regardless of race/ religion or ethnicity. I grew up in a civil war which lasted 25 years and don’t want the next generation to go through that.

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) March 7, 2018

The Kandy region is popular with tourists as well as Buddhist pilgrims. The Sri Lankan government responded to the riots by ordering a nationwide state of emergency, giving security forces and police special powers to arrest and detain suspects.

Internet access was restricted in Kandy and social media websites blocked in a bid to prevent the spread of anti-Muslim hate speech.