Sri Lanka
In 2017 Mahinda Dasanayaka started ‘Book & Me’, a mobile library providing free books and documentary screenings for children in remote Kegalle, northeast Sri Lanka. Dasanayaka, who works as a child protection officer, volunteers his time delivering books in the mountainous region on his motorbike fitted with a red steel box filled with reading materials.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan Catholics gathered to pray at St. Anthony's shrine which was attacked in the Easter Sunday bombings, the worst attack since the civil war in the country. A mass was held for the first time since the church was restored & reopened. Hundreds of worshippers, survivors and relatives of victims to pay tribute to their loved ones. More than 250 people were killed in the attacks on April 21.
One man has died and Muslim-owned shops and houses burned and raided as a wave of anti-Muslim violence spread across Sri Lanka. It’s believed the attacks are in retaliation for the Easter church attacks in April which left over 250 people dead. The government dispersed a mob in the north-west of the country after they walked through a town attack Muslim homes and shops. A curfew has been put in place and the government temporarily shut down social media.
As a British Sri Lankan, I was heartbroken by the Easter attacks – my family there are living in fear about what the future holds for the country
Human rights groups have condemned the ban for restricting Muslim women.
A bomb factory has also been discovered.
The development came amid unusually specific warnings of further attacks.
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel.
Discrepancy blamed on chaotic scenes in the aftermath.
"Our hope is that it will be possible to change this when the current security operation has concluded."