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Damages to homes<br />
Muslim<br />
Sinhala<br />
Completely Damaged 31 2<br />
Partially Damaged 195 20<br />
Damage to Businesses<br />
Muslim<br />
Sinhala<br />
Completely damaged 69 5<br />
Partially damaged 52 9<br />
Stories from Dharga Town<br />
Seenawatte<br />
Seenawatte was a mixed neighborhood where Muslim families lived in close proximity to<br />
Sinhala families. We spoke to an extended family of three households who were the only<br />
Muslims in that neighbourhood. They had lost a house and a shop. There had been a wedding<br />
in the family the previous night and the family had gathered at one house that was inside a<br />
small lane. The house and shop that were attacked and damaged were on the main road.<br />
There had been three to four groups of youth that came within half an hour. Each of them<br />
came shouting insults at “thambiyas.”<br />
The witness stated the following:<br />
First there was one group that came and this group was led by two monks. They threw<br />
stones and broke all the windows of the house. Then 15 minutes later another group<br />
arrived. Then a few minutes later, a third group came. They were the worst, they<br />
broke and smashed and burnt down everything. Later when we were trying to put out<br />
the fires there was another group that came – a group of young boys - maybe 15 years<br />
old. The STF chased them away. There were others who came with their faces<br />
covered and took the stuff from the houses put them into bags and carried them out.<br />
The witness also stated that the STF was in the vicinity and when he ran to ask for assistance<br />
when the house was burning he was told that they had come for some other work and could<br />
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