Muslim boy shot dead in Western Province

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 12:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deserter leading a Sinhala mob, shot dead an 18-year-old Muslim boy, and seriously injured two other Muslim youths Monday night around 8:30 in the Muslim Western Province village of Ambalanduwa. The mob attacked the Muslims when they opposed a group of extremists attempting to place a Buddha statue close to a Mosque in their village, located in the Panadura division of Kalutara district, Police said.

The victim was identified as Mohammed Faizal. The SLA deserter was identified as Priyantha, according to the Police.

The army deserter and some of his supporters tried to place a Buddha statue close to the mosque in the village. When Muslim residents opposed the move, the mob led by Priyantha commenced the attack.