[10][11] Social media networks including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were blocked in parts of the country to prevent mobs from organizing their attacks and spreading propaganda.

[16][17][18][19] The police officers stated that the unusual situation which prevailed in the country for a few days had been brought under control, but tight security was imposed in a few parts of the nation as the predicted threats had been focused on the Muslim prayers on 9 March 2018.

[43] Areas with larger Muslim populations in Maruthamunai, Sammanthurai, Akkaraipattu, Addalaichenai and Kalmunai in Ampara District were conducting Hartals, as a response against the anti-Muslim riots.

[47] The uproar began to spread to Digana by the morning of 5 March, when a large mob converged on the town, setting fire to a mosque, shops and houses.

In response, police used tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowd, which saw retaliation from the mob who threw various projectiles, while the violence spread to more residences, shops and nearby vehicles.

[48][45][47] Traffic along the A26 was forced to a halt, and by 3 PM, the police requested the support of the Sri Lanka Army, which deployed 200 troops from the Sinha Regiment base in Digana in the evening.

[49][45][50][51][52] By the evening of 6 March, a total of 4 mosques, 37 houses, 46 shops and 35 vehicles were damaged or destroyed as a result of the riots in both Digana and other locations in the Kandy District; 1 confirmed fatality was reported.

[68] A panel of three retired judges was appointed by the Sri Lankan President to probe into the anti-Muslim riots to inquire into the incidents which took place in areas such as Digana and Teldeniya.

[69][70][71] The newly appointed Minister of Law and Order, Ranjith Madduma Bandara stated that the current Sri Lankan government is planning to bring fresh legislation to ensure a code of conduct for the operation of social media networks in Sri Lanka by the international practices to avoid unethical false claims, and rumours which have been spread by many suspicious people through social media.

The Minister also said that the law enforcement authorities and agencies have arrested people for conducting alleged hate campaigns regarding the ethnic riots between Muslims and Buddhists which prevailed in Kandy for about a week.

[72] Police raided the Mahason Balakaya office at Naththaranpotha in Kundasale after interrogating Amith Weerasinghe which revealed bottles used to make petrol bombs as well as equipment and propaganda materials such as leaflets, posters, notices, letters, banners, a large number of documents and wristbands, which were used in propagating hate speech.

Sri Lankan lecturer Dr. Mohamed Najimudeen from Melaka Manipal Medical College in Malaysia has also offered a prize of 1,000,000 LKR to anyone able to prove sterilization medicines are being added to clothes or food in the country by various individuals.

[74][75][76] Dr. Razia Pendse, the World Health Organization representative in Sri Lanka issued a statement claiming, "There is no medication or 'pills' currently known or available that can permanently make a human being sterile.

[82] Several government and opposition MPs criticized the police and its decision-making, while others called for calm and harsh punishments for perpetrators of racially motivated violence.

[83][84] The government and the opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) alleged an organized, political effort to inflame sectarian tensions in Kandy.

[86][87] BBS Secretary General Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara visited the assault victim's home on 4 March and claimed he had urged residents of the area to remain calm.

[88] To prevent mobs from organizing online through social media platforms, internet access to the Kandy District was restricted by order of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).

[89][91][92] The Centre for Policy Alternatives, a think-tank based in Colombo, released a statement claiming videos containing "false information" that sought to incite sectarian violence were going viral online.

This was evident despite the attempts taken by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to provide further updates to foreign tourists about the country's current situation.

Pathadumbara Thalpotha Dhammajothi Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Balagolla Viharaya organized efforts to provide dry rations to Muslim families displaced due to riots.

[56][104] Sri Lankan cricketers including Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya strongly condemned the situation and asked the populace to come together to unite the country.

[110][111] Former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan said that his family members were feeling safe in Kandy and also said that there was no need to worry about the country following the declaration of the state of emergency.

[113] Further, Mahinda Rajapaksa has also been reported to have met the heads of diplomatic missions of a few Islamic countries to discuss the communal violence which erupted in the nation a few weeks ago.

[116][117] Human rights activist, Meenakshi Ganguly from India also blamed the Sri Lankan government for not taking immediate action to eradicate communal violence in the nation.

In addition to the destruction of many shops employing both Sinhalese and Muslims, many tourists cancelled visits to Sri Lanka which heavily depends on the tourism industry.

[119][120][24] The violence in Kandy affected the Nuwara Eliya season in April where there was a 40% drop in tourist arrivals both local and foreign compared to the previous year.