In a letter to the IGP, the Sri Lanka Muslim Council complained about police brutality against a group of interfaith people who gathered at the Galle Face to participate in an Iftar ceremony.

This event was planned with the full approval of the Colpity police, and while the ceremony was taking shape, the police intervened and brutally chased the invitees.

The Muslim Council has requested that the IGP intervene in this matter.

The organisers that included a multi faith group wanted to bring an interfaith break fast group during our holy month of Ramadan in prayer and solidarity with people who were killed on the fateful Easter Sunday of 21/4/2019. They had invited people of all faiths to join in solidarity and experience the Muslim break fast at dusk. Over 1200 people of all faiths had gathered at Galle Face, near the Galle Face hotel.

The organisers sought the permission of the Colpetty Police in writing and the gentleman officer in-0charge had verbally given them permission. He had also given his name and mobile no to call him if there was any need of additional security. Our organisers had told him that they do not expect any trouble as its a simple solidarity meeting of different faiths and share our breaking Ramadan fast.

At about 4.45, officers from the Fort police had descended on the area where food was being served to break fast to the invitees and wanted the organisers to abandon the event. Amidst protests from the organisers, the police had forced some of our invitees to recite our Kalima (Laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Muhammadur-Rasoolu-llaah – meaning There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).

This was an interfaith gathering and people of other faiths would not have known our Kalima and even if they knew, the police have no moral justification to demand any one to recite professing of the Muslim faith and this should not be even demanded from a Muslim. This is police brutality and an insult to the interfaith gathering who had come in hundreds.