Pressure has mounted on the Police to take action on the Chairman of the Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha for barring Muslim vendors from entering the weekly pola.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman has barred the Muslim vendors from entering the pola citing security reasons.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman's action has set off a firestorm of criticism on social media with many activists calling for his arrest under the ICCPR Act of 2007.

"Apartheid in Wennappuwa; Muslim traders "banned" in weekly market by @PresRajapaksa controlled local council. Shame!" Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera tweeted this afternoon.

Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha is controlled by the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP).