The Police arrested three individuals namely Tharindu Malith Muthukumarana (28), Indiketiya Hewage Vinod Dhanushka (22) and Kandappa Hettige Gayan Kumudu Kumara (36) for posting inflammatory content on Facebook inciting mob violence.

They will be charged under the International Covenant on Civil and Politic Rights (ICCPR) and the Penal Code.

Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera told the media yesterday that the suspects arrested under Emergency Laws and international covenants on civil and political rights, can only request bail at High Court, and if convicted, can serve a ten year jail term.

He also started that the violence in Sri Lanka was not an ethnic or religion issue, but something incited for ‘narrow gains by a group of opportunists'.

The Police said on Monday that it had set up a separate unit to monitor hate speech and take action on those spreading hatred.