Police used water cannons to disperse 'Sinhala Ravaya' protesters at Kuragala sacred site in Balangoda a short while ago.

Police Media Spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told Asian Mirror that a group of 20 Buddhist monks and 150 others of the ‘Sinhala Ravaya’ group had protested at Kuragala.

Police had obtained a restraining order from Balangoda Magistrates Courts against the protest, ASP Gunasekara said. However, the protesters disregarded it and continued with the protest, and attempted to damage the mosque located at the site. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters, Gunasekara said.

The media spokesperson added that no one was arrested and no one was injured in the incident.

ASP Gunasekara also added that the residents of the area, both Muslims and Sinhalese, were against this protest action by ‘Sinhala Ravaya.’

Muslims believe the mosque in Kuragala to be an ancient Sufi shrine dating back to the 12th century. However, Buddhists believe this to be an ancient Buddhist site.