Sri Lanka's Central province has been under a state of emergency after anti-Muslim riots earlier this month led to up to 3 deaths. In an exclusive interview with CGTN, the Chief Minister of Sri Lanka's central Province, Sarath Ekanayake called the attacks in Sri Lanka, politically motivated.

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "We have with us the Chief Minister of the Central province of Sri Lanka. Mr. Sarath Ekanayake. He is also the minister of the Muslim affairs for the region. Mr. Ekanayake, many thanks for speaking with us. What led to this entire incident?"

SARATH EKANAYAKE CHIEF MINISTER, CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA "Even for us it's a question. Why it happened in this area but you know there are people who are people of revenge. Those people were waiting for things to happen. They may be Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, whoever they were waiting for things to happen. For these gentlemen who are here, you may ask them if anything of this nature ever happened in this city. Never happened but this is maybe some influence of other parties, not from the area maybe. Once the outsiders started the area people also gathered."

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "Do you think it's politically motivated?"

SARATH EKANAYAKE CHIEF MINISTER, CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA "Some could say because this is just after elections so maybe there are other motivation behind the scene also."

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "Have you brought things under control. Are you providing more security?"

SARATH EKANAYAKE CHIEF MINISTER, CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA "Yes, for that actually we are building up the mosque again, giving compensation to children, for the people, but it's not sufficient because to have friendliness between all these communities we have to start something."

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "Kandy is occupied by a lot of tourists. Specially at this time of the year. Have you seen a drop in tourism?"

SARATH EKANAYAKE CHIEF MINISTER, CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA "Drastically, yes, normally this period from February to may we are getting more tourists from Arab countries. When things happen like this no Arab will come here."

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "Till when will the emergency be there?"

SARATH EKANAYAKE CHIEF MINISTER, CENTRAL PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA "So the government has increased police and army personnel here. Army personnel you cannot call if there is no emergency declared. Unfortunately, 2 or 3 incidents took place after the main incident took place. I think they did a good job. They tried their best and I am not saying we have to have emergency declared throughout but for the time being we had to do that. If there was no curfew, if there was no emergency, I think things would have been worse."

SHWETA BAJAJ CGTN REPORTER "Thank you, chief minister."