Colombo, June 27 (IANS): Seven hundred Sri Lankan soldiers Friday began reconstruction of dozens of houses and shops vandalized and torched during Buddhist-Muslim clashes that left four dead, an official said.
The Buddhist-Muslim violence erupted last week in the southern tourist hot spots of Aluthgama and Beruwala.
The violence was sparked by Buddhist hardline group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or Buddhist Task Force. After a rally by the group, mobs went berserk torching dozens of houses and shops in the area.
The government came under fire from the opposition and the international community for failing to bring members of the BBS to justice.
On Thursday, the government allocated $1.5 million to repair and reconstruct shops and houses of both Muslims and Buddhists damaged in the clashes.
The bulk of the funds has been allocated to the army, which will use $1.1 million for reconstruction.
"We will repair homes and shops in Beruwala, Kaluthara, Mathugama and Benthara," Resettlement Minister Guneratne Weerakoon told reporters.