The riots originated as isolated incidents in the aftermath of the Easter bombings in the nation,[2] beginning in Chilaw and subsequently spreading to much of the Northwestern Province.

At the media briefing, Minister Rauff Hakeem stated that the decision was made to allow space for thorough and unhindered investigations of alleged terror links of politicians.

[15] Amongst those remanded into custody was Amith Weerasinghe, the leader of the Sinhala-Buddhist group Mahason Balakaya, who was taken in for questioning regarding his role in the riots, and regarding his alleged racial and religious hate speech, posted and distributed through social media channels.

[21][22] On 21 June, CEO of Derana Dilith Jayaweera was charged with violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, due to a controversial speech he made at a book launch.

[23] According to a preliminary report published by Daily Mirror on 30 May 2019, through data obtained from Gampaha District's Minuwangoda Divisional Secretariat, 12 houses, 64 businesses, 1 mosque, and 9 vehicles were damaged or destroyed during the anti-Muslim riots.

Although, UK-based charity NGO Muslim Aid, stated that 457 families were affected, and 147 houses, 132 businesses, 29 mosques, 52 vehicles, and 2 public facilities, were damaged or destroyed during the anti-Muslim riots.

[62] On 22 May 2019, in a shock move which were condemned by many including International Crisis Group, Gnanasara was released under a special presidential pardon by Maithripala Sirisena, without further comments from the president's office.

[66] On 2 June 2019, speaking to the media, Gnanasara promised to cause countrywide pandemonium (sanakeli) if the government does not take action on his demands of removing the controversial Muslim politicians from the parliament.

[67] On 7 June Gnanasara's travel ban was temporarily lifted as he received a foreign scholarship and announced that he will leave Sri Lanka for studies.

[73] The government blocked major social media networks and messaging services Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat and YouTube during peak rioting.

[clarification needed] The activities of NTJ and its leader Zahran Cassim were known as early as 2014, with a number of public protests and demonstrations carried out by the Kattankudy Muslim community, urging the government to take action.

In 2016, twenty-three Muslim Religious and Civil Society organizations headed by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama issued a statement against activities of the NTJ.

Ruby and Abdul Rahman [86][87] Parliamentarian and Buddhist monk Athuraliye Rathana Thero began a fast-unto-death at the Temple of the Tooth on 31 May 2019, demanding the removal of Muslim politicians Rishad Bathiudeen, Mahamood Hizbullah, and Azath Salley.

[88][89] On 1 June, a monk and President of Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya, Liyanwala Sasanaratana, urged people to join the efforts of Rathana Thero, to save the nation from terrorists.

[106] Further searches were conducted on 3 May 2019, in Peradeniya University premises, and suspicious locations in Moneragala, Anuradhapura, Katugastota, Puttalam, Kekirawa, Balapitiya, Welimada, and several other major areas.

Pistols, NTJ literature/DVDs/CDs, T-56 rifles, ammunition rounds, swords, iron balls, bore 12 guns, machetes, and a stock of warlike items, were among those recoveries in the areas.

Rioters mistook the post as a warning of an imminent threat, and launched a mob attack destroying his textile shop and vandalising a nearby mosque.