Mischievous SMS spoils Sri Lankan festival

Due to large-scale non-participation by Muslims, Nuwara Eliya, the most picturesque town in Sri Lankan’s hill country,  saw a drop of 35 per cent in visitor arrivals in April this year compared with last year, ‘The Sunday Times’ reported.

The drop came as a result of an SMS that was circulated, warning Muslims not to come to Nuwara Eliya during the season.

The SMS scare began after a Muslim youth sent out a message requesting co-religionists to stay away from Nuwara Eliya.

However, the matter was resolved by the police after the arrest of the youth who sent the SMS.

The chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Mosque Donors Society, Mohamed Faleel said that though many Muslims stayed away from the April festivities, the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities continue to live in harmony.

The summer festival, known as “Selalihini Vasanthaya 2013” included activities such as car races, jet skiing on the lake, horse and boat races, music concerts and a carnival for kids.

Significant losses were experienced at the festival by both the state as well as businesses suffered significant losses during the April festival due to the drop in visitors, according to Nuwara Eliya Mayor Mahinda Dodampagamage. Majority of the visitors during the season are usually Muslims, he added.




 
 

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