At the centre of the clashes was a religious dispute arising from dogmatic interpretations of various Islamic concepts. Adding fuel to fire was alleged political backing of one of the groups - a group that has emerged dominant after last Sunday's clashes.
Today, as police patrol this eastern town of more than 50,000 Muslims, an eerie calm prevails. The roots of the dispute go back to more than three decades. It all started when a person known as Abdullah Pailvan, a supposed thinker, preached his version of Islam, which not only differed from the mainstream religion but also led to his virtual excommunication. He is alleged to have described Prophet Muhammad as an incarnation of God Almighty and issued fatwas (decrees) that fasting was not compulsory. Though his version of Islam is not widespread, he has a couple of thousand followers in the Muslim-dominant Eastern province.
However, he and his followers have been branded as heretics by the followers of mainstream Islam, which itself is divided along many schools of thoughts. Of late, the eastern province has seen another phenomenon - the rise of Salafi Islam, the puritan version of Islam, widely practised in Saudi Arabia and other West Asian countries.
Last Sunday's clashes erupted when moves were under way to bury the ailing Pailvan in a Muslim burial ground when he dies. The Salafis opposed. A bomb went off at a mosque, injuring several people and unleashing the riot.
Pailvan group members accused NUA politician M. L. M. Hisbullah of instigating the attacks. The Batticaloa-based politician denied the allegations, but demonstrated no remorse for the attacks, saying that the All Ceylon Jammiathul Ulema, the apex body of Sri Lanka's Muslim theologians, had decreed the Pailvan group to be heretic.
"We are horrified by the blasphemy to Islam, especially to Prophet Mohammed," Mr. Hisbullah said, though he was quick to point out that he was not justifying the attack.
He denied that last Sunday's clashes were a manifestation of Islamic fundamentalism in Sri Lanka. Mr. Hisbullah also claimed that the situation was back to normal with Pailvan group members reverting to the mainstream Islam. Pailvan group members, however, had a different story to tell.
Rauf Maulavi, spokesman and understudy of Abdullah Pailvan, said their group members had gone into hiding to avoid being forced to convert into mainstream Islam. "Our members are being hunted down and forced to give up their faith which is based on Sufi (mystic) interpretation of Islam. This is a violation of our fundamental rights. We are denied our freedom to follow the faith of our choice," said H. M. Ameer, another member of the Pailvan group.
Mr. Ameer said the group's spiritual leader, Abdullah Pailvan, was still in hiding for fear of being attacked. M. Mausood, another Pailvan group member, who fled to Colombo said last Sunday's attack was the worst unleashed on the group.
"There have been disagreements in the recent past and even verbal battle. But never have we seen this type of religious thuggery," said Mr, Mausood who said his house was attacked by the Salafi mob. He also accused politicians of all hues backing the attack on the group to gain political advantage.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem lamented divisions among the people of the East, saying it would only strengthen the hands of the LTTE and weaken the case of the Muslims for a separate delegation at the peace talks. He said he believed the clashes had nothing to do with politics but added certain politicians might be involved to settle personal scores.
Refuting the claim that the Kattankudi incident highlighted Islamic extremism, Mr. Hakeem said there was no place for extremism in Islam and urged all Muslim groups to unite and protect the interest of their faith and community.
NUA leader and Minister Ferial Ashraff said she had spoken to Mr. Hisbullah and urged him to take necessary measures to prevent any recurrence. Senior Police Superintendent M. P. Samaradivakara said seven people had been arrested in connection with last Sunday's riots.
He denied any politician was involved in the attacks. "It is just a matter of religious fervour getting out of hand. We have brought the situation under control and any attempt to disrupt peace will be dealt with severely," he said. - Reports by Frances Bulathsinghala
