In this Feb 27, 2018 photo, soldiers of Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force (STF) perform a drill during celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the STF at Katukurunda, some 40 kilometers south of Colombo. President of the country decided on March 6, 2018 to declare a 10-day state of emergency following clashes in central district of Kandy. (LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP)

COLOMBO – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday decided to declare a 10-day state of emergency following clashes in the district of Kandy in central Sri Lanka.

The state of emergency will give the president power to deploy the armed forces across the country.

Mano Ganeshan, Minister of National Dialogue

Minister of National Dialogue, Mano Ganeshan told Xinhua that the decision had been taken following a special cabinet meeting Tuesday morning.

The state of emergency will give the president power to deploy the armed forces across the country, said Ganeshan.

Sri Lankan Police on Tuesday re-imposed a curfew in parts of Kandy after violent mobs took to the streets Monday, burning houses and businesses in the latest spate of racial violence to hit the island country.

In a statement, the Sri Lankan government condemned the violence in Kandy and warned of stern actions against those inciting racism.

The government also condemned the hate and mischievous misinformation campaigns carried out on social media, with the clear objective of creating disharmony among communities and inciting violence.

"The government urges every citizen of Sri Lanka to desist from falling prey to such hate and misinformation campaigns," said Director General of Government Information Department, Sudarshana Gunawardhana.

“As a country that had suffered by acts of violence for nearly three decades, we as a nation should desist from repetition of such (acts).”

Violence erupted in Kandy Monday when mobs clashed on the streets causing severe unrest and leading to shops and homes being burnt and damaged.