DHAKA: Sri Lanka’s police called in a militant Buddhist monk for questioning Wednesday after he was accused of instigating deadly anti-Muslim riots that heightened religious tensions in the ethnically divided nation.

Galagodaatte Gnanasara was summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department over a speech he made two weeks ago in the resort town of Alutgama where mobs attacked Muslim-owned shops and homes, police said.

‘Other speakers who were at the same stage with the monk will also be questioned in due course,’ said a statement, adding that a total of 117 people had been arrested in connection with the religious riots.

A police source said Gnanasara had been ‘detained’ but stopped short of saying that he had been formally arrested, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2041 HRS, JULY 02, 2014