COLOMBO – In Sri Lanka, authorities have shut down social media to controlviolence against the Muslim minority. The government said some of theviolence has been instigated over social media with postings appearing onFacebook threatening more attacks against the minority.

It said Facebook, Viber and Whatsapp would be blocked across the countryfor three days.

Police has clamped an indefinite curfew in the central highlands districtof Kandy where the violence has been centered. President MaithripalaSirisena has also imposed emergency for seven days to control the violence.

Meanwhile, the UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said he is alarmed bythe recurring episodes of violence against ethnic and religious minoritiesin Sri Lanka.

In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said there shouldbe no impunity, either for the incitement that led to the attacks, or theattacks themselves.