Buddhists and Muslims clashed after the attack, and police imposed a curfew in the area on Saturday.

A Muslim resident of the area said that a mob threw stones at the mosque when worshippers were performing evening prayers.

The police and special task force commandos were dispatched to the area and have been able to bring the situation under control, a police spokesman said.

Several houses were also damaged in Saturday's clashes. Two of the injured were policemen guarding the mosque.

Last month, a group of Buddhist monks had protested near the mosque, demanding it be relocated.

In recent months hardline Buddhist groups have mounted a campaign against Muslim and Christian targets.

Buddhists monks had reportedly protested against the presence of the mosque but had agreed to allow Muslims to continue praying there until the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

But Muslims says Sri Lanka's religious affairs ministry had given them permission to continue using the site and had also provided special police security due to the threat of possible attacks.

NTJ/SHI