Tamil rally sparking fears of violence

Plans for a Tamil street rally is sparking fears of more ethnic violence between
Sydney's Sri Lankan communities.
A vicious home invasion in the outer suburb of Westmead on Sunday in which two
Sinhalese men were badly injured has heightened the tension.
Chathuika Weerasinghe, 27, was doused with acid and stabbed when at least five men
smashed their way into a home in Alexandra Avenue about midnight (AEST) on Sunday.
He's recovering in Westmead Hospital, but friends say he still fears for his life
and police are providing extra patrols.
Doctors fear a second victim, Jayasri Watawala, 22, may lose his sight - he also had
acid thrown over him during the home invasion, inflicting severe burns.
Both men on Tuesday were reported to be in a stable condition, but tension between
the Tamil and Sinhalese communities in Sydney remains high.
The attack followed two brawls on Sunday, both believed to have involved members of
the Tamil and Sinhalese communities.
The violence is thought to have been sparked by the Tamil Tigers admitting defeat in
their 37-year battle for an independent ethnic homeland in Sri Lanka, which is ruled
by the Sinhalese majority.
The Tamil community has been protesting for weeks in Sydney and Canberra over what
they say is the genocide of their people in Sri Lanka.
And Sydney's Sinhalese community fears plans for a weekend Tamil rally could spark
more violence.
"There are plans for another Tamil Tigers supporters' rally in George Street this
weekend and it is very, very concerning to our community and we requested that this
matter be taken higher up (by police) and stopped," Sri Lankan community spokesman
Nimal Liyanage told AAP.
Tamil spokeswoman Sam Pari has confirmed a rally will be held on Saturday but says
it's part of ongoing, nation-wide action.
She has condemned Sunday's attack, adding it was unlikely to have been carried out
by a member of her community.
Members of the Sinhalese community met with NSW and Australian Federal Police along
with Sri Lanka's Consul-General Gothami Indikadahena on Monday night to discuss the
recent violence.
Authorities have called for calm, targeting the thousands of Sri Lankan students in
Sydney and appealing for them not retaliate to intimidation.
Dr Pari said she was disappointed the Tamil community was not invited to the meeting
at Killara, in Sydney's north.
"There clearly cannot be a valid argument if not all parties are represented," she
said.
Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans has offered his sympathy to the
acid attack victims.
"This was an horrific attack and the government wants to stress that ethnic or
religious-based violence is unacceptable in Australian society," Senator Evans said
in a statement on Tuesday.
"The Australian government condemns any form of sectarian conflict and, indeed,
there are grounds to cancel people's visas under the Migration Act should they
engage in serious crime.
"That said, it is important that we do not blame all people from a particular
migrant group for the behaviour of a few."
Police are yet to arrest or charge anyone over the acid attack.