Apr 24 (DM) Questions will keep racing through everyone’s minds. Why Sri Lanka? Why now? Why churches and hotels? Why was Sri Lanka targeted and why was it done? Our harrowing history of war, conflict and polarisation, is again on the knife edge and may take a tragic turn. Memories of bombings and deaths, attacks on Churches, Mosques and Temples from the past will be rekindled. And those that feed on the politics of polarisation will be emboldened. more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) SL intelligence officials were tipped off about an imminent attack by Islamist militants hours before a series of suicide bombings killed more than 300 people on Easter Sunday, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Three churches and four hotels were hit by suicide bombers on Sunday morning, killing 321 people and wounding 500, sending shockwaves through an island state that has been more..

Apr 24 (EN) SL's rupee closed stable at 174.50/90 to the US dollar in the spot market on Tuesday, while bond yields were steady with buying from state institutions amid a state of emergency. The rupee had closed at 174.50/70 to the US dollar in the spot market on Monday. In overnight money markets, there was 34.37 billion rupees in excess liquidity on Tuesday, up from 32.25 billion rupees on Monday. In the bond market, yields were stable on buying from state-controlled institutions more..

Apr 24 (PMD) Prez Sirisena visited the recently bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, Negombo today (23) to inquire into the present situation and inspect damages caused to the church. Prez met with the Parish Priest Fr. Srilal Fonseka and extended his deepest condolences to him towards all the Catholics in the area. Prez also inquired regarding the reconstruction works of the Church and stated that he has given instructions to the SL Army to complete those constructions more..

Apr 24 (AP) More than 300 people were killed in bombings of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. SL authorities say at least 31 foreigners died in the attacks. Some details on the victims: SRI LANKA: The vast majority of the victims were Sri Lankan, many from the island nation’s Christian minority. Their names and details of their lives were slow to trickle in and difficult to report, in part because authorities blocked more..

Apr 24 (NDTV) New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern said that her govt was not aware of any intelligence suggesting that a devastating attack on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka was in retaliation for deadly shootings on a mosques in Christchurch. SL's junior minister for defence, Ruwan Wijewardene said that an initial investigation had revealed the coordinated bombings on churches and hotels, which killed 321 people, had been carried out in revenge for deadly shootings in two NZ mosques on March 15. more..

Apr 24 (TN) The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command has dispatched a team of specialists to Sri Lanka, following the deadly bombing attack that claimed the lives of at least 321 people, including at least eight Brits, on Easter Sunday. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that family liaison officers had been sent to the South Asian country to support and assist the families of British victims and the repatriation of deceased UK nationals. more..

Apr 24 (NDTV) India had shared intelligence inputs with Sri Lanka but there was a lapse in how the country handled it, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said in an exclusive interview with NDTV in Colombo on Tuesday, three days after a terrorist attack killed more than 300 people and injured over 500. "India gave us the intelligence but there has been a lapse on how we acted on that intelligence was not conveyed down the line," he said. more..

Apr 24 (Island) The CSE could bounce back when business activities in the country come back to normal following the Easter Sunday morning bombings which targeted churches and hotels, CSE's Head of Research and New Products Nishantha Hewavithana said. "This is an ad-hoc situation where the market is sensitive and resilient to such shocks. The prevailing situation will taper off once all business activities revert to normal, Hewavithana said. more..

Apr 24 (FT) The number of foreign nationals identified as killed in the Easter Sunday attacks rose to 34 yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday, with 14 still unaccounted for. The fatalities are one from Bangladesh, two from China, ten from India, three from Denmark, one from Japan, one from the Netherlands, one from Portugal, two from Saudi Arabia, one from Spain, two from Turkey, six from the UK, two holding US and UK nationalities, and two holding Australian and SL nationalities. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Security forces were on high alert yesterday with multiple search operations taking place countrywide as investigations continued into Sunday’s bombings, with the Govt saying more attacks were possible but assuring that progress was being made in apprehending those responsible. The National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) was mentioned as the organisation linked to the attacks that have left 321 people dead more..

Apr 24 (DM) Prez Sirisena was reported to have told the govt that he could not remove IGP Pujith Jayasundara because he was appointed on a decision of the Constitutional Council. He had said this when he met the ministers at his office on Monday evening to discuss the crisis situation triggered by a series of bombings on Sunday killing 321 people. The President was responding to calls by some ministers that the IGP should be sacked forthwith over his alleged failure to act on more..

Apr 24 (Island) An irate Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has asked Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa whether he wanted security placed under wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the aftermath of the Eastern Sunday carnage. Samaraweera said so when Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa queried whether the weakening of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) following the change of government contributed to the deterioration of security. more..

Apr 24 (DC) The Easter Sunday bombings in SL has left in a quandary refugees of the island nation living in Tamil Nadu, who recently opted to return to their homeland. The series of blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in SL on Sunday left 310 people dead. Expressing serious concern about the blasts in his homeland, founder of the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation S.C. Chandrahasan more..

Apr 24 (DN) The President of the Olympic Council of Asia, H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, has expressed his shock and grief at the devastating loss of life in the series of bomb attacks to hit Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. As the death toll reached 290 and the number of injured stood at more than 500, Sheikh Ahmad said it was difficult to find words to describe the horrifying sequence of events that unfolded in churches and hotels on Sunday morning. “The OCA is shocked and saddened by more..

Apr 24 (DM) In a message to Prez Sirisena, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reassured that Russia was SL’s partner in combatting terrorism and said he expected “masterminds and perpetrators of such a heinous and cynical crime get the punishment they deserve.” “Dear Mr. President, please accept our most sincere condolences for the tragic consequences of the series of terrorist acts in the cities of your country. I would like to reassert that Russia has been & remains a reliable partner more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) The IMF said on Tuesday that initial financial market pressures on Sri Lanka appear contained following horrific Easter Sunday bomb attacks but decisive policy and security actions are needed to shore up the island’s all-important tourism sector. At least 321 people were killed and about 500 wounded in Sunday’s attacks on churches and hotels. “Initial financial market pressures seem to more..

Apr 24 (CT) Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando should accept the responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks and resign, said former MP Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera. He was speaking at the funeral of the victims who perished in the attack at St. Anthony’s Church in Katuwapitiya. “We saw the statement that Fernando made yesterday, as a senior official responsible for national security of this country. He said that he knew about these attacks, but had not expected them to be so severe” more..

Apr 24 (Island) Colombo police stations had been placed on red alert following an intelligence warning that a lorry and a van carrying explosives are in the city, Police Spokesperson, SSP Ruwan Gunasekera told media. A Hotline—116, has been opened for any information from the public, he said. All police officers manning entrances and exits to the harbour and security official of the ports authority have been warned to be cautious of vehicles attempting to enter their premises. more..

Apr 24 (Island) The State intelligence agencies had gathered information about 160 National Thowheed Jamath members who had been trained by terrorists, but it had not been possible to arrest them as there had been no orders from higher authorities, according to sources. Investigations had revealed that a group of persons, who had undergone training previously had trained the suicide cadres who carried out more..

Apr 24 (EN) Sri Lanka will review a ban on social media following an attack by Islamists on churches and hotels that killed more than 300 people, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. "We will consider that," he told foreign correspondents responding to a question when a block on whatsapp.com will be lifted. He said the clamp down on social media was to prevent any incitement and a repeat of an incident in Digana. He was referring to violence against Muslims incited by Bhudhist extremists. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday said the country was open for business, and all necessary steps have been taken to ensure assistance is provided to tourists in need of help following the acts of terror that took place on Easter Sunday. Issuing a joint statement, SLTPB and SLTDA said they continue to engage with high-level Govt officials and tourism stakeholders to assess the current situation. more..

Apr 24 (DM) ISIS has released footage of the Sri Lanka suicide bombers swearing allegiance to the terror group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before the Easter Sunday massacre. In the video eight jihadists stand in a circle, touch hands and pledge their loyalty to the elusive ISIS caliph, who has not been seen in public for five years. With a black ISIS flag hanging in the background, the attackers chant in unison more..

Apr 24 (DN) Nochchiyagama police found a large stock of explosives in a house opposite the Nochchiyagama filling station and arrested eight suspects yesterday morning. Police said the raid was conducted following a tip off. Among the explosives seized were 314 sticks of water gel, 23 sacks of ammonia each weighing 24 kg, 46 detonator cords each 10 metres in length and 18 other detonator cords each 418 metres in length. Police said they also took into custody a van more..

Apr 24 (DM) Govt is reported to have re-introduced another wartime measure such as the setting up of security committees at district levels in the aftermath of the series of bombings that killed 321 people and wounded some 500. Minister Vajira Abeywardane said these committees would be set up in keeping with the instructions given by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to all district secretariats. The committees will be required to meet every Sunday and will comprise representatives of more..

Apr 24 (CT) Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando yesterday, reiterated that though the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had informed that there was a possibility of certain isolated incidents taking place in certain areas in the country, the Govt had not anticipated an attack of the magnitude of the Easter Sunday blasts. When a foreign journalist had queried as to why security was not provided to the churches despite the IS having alerted more..

Apr 24 (NYP) Two brothers were both suicide bombers in the Sri Lanka massacre — and one of their wives later blew up herself and their two children during a police raid, according to a report. The unnamed brothers, both in their 20s and sons of a wealthy local spice trader, hit two of three luxury hotels during the devastation that left at least 321 dead. They separately checked into the Cinnamon Grand hotel and the Shangri-La on Saturday — setting off explosives-laden backpacks at more..

Apr 24 (Sputnik) Indian intelligence services' early warning to Sri Lanka of a potential terror plot in the country was based on information extracted from Daesh terrorist group suspect in their custody, media reported. On Monday, SL Economic Reform Minister Harsha De Silva said Indian and US intelligence services had briefed Sri Lanka on the terrorist attacks being plotted ahead of its execution. The Information India shared with Colombo revealed that the Daesh suspect in Indian custody more..

Apr 24 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena says that he hopes to affect changes among the heads of the country’s security forces within the next 24 hours. He stated this during his address to the nation, in the wake of Sunday’s devastating bombings targeting multiple churches and hotels in SL. Prez pointed out that various discussions, dialogues, debates, and criticisms on these attacks are currently ongoing in the country and more..

Apr 24 (DM) Easter Sunday bombings that killed nearly 300 innocent people, mostly worshippers celebrating Easter, came as a rude shock to the Muslim community. Muslim families watched in disbelief as the events unfolded and the finger was pointed at Islamic extremists. They could not believe that such a crime would be perpetrated in the name of a faith that has stood for peace for over a thousand years, a faith that has had as a basic teaching the tolerance of other faiths and more..

Apr 24 (DM) As SL looks to pick up the pieces and rebuild a shattered nation following a series of suicide bombings, its citizens now ponder on the thought unlike never before as to what holds in store for them in the future. The islanders are just weeks away from celebrating 10 years after crushing the Tiger rebels, but a series of bombings on Easter Sunday gave enough signs of an impending danger of another violent armed uprising. This time fingers are pointed at an Islamist extreme group more..

Apr 24 (DM) On April 22 (Monday) the final rites of 12-year-old Sharon Steven, his 10-year-old sister Shara Ebshiba, and their 13-year-old friend Jenakshika Thivenithan were held in Batticaloa, along with the funerals of 23 other victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attack that claimed the lives of 29 people in Zion Church. A total 14 children (7 girls and 7 boys) and 12 adults have so far been identified as having lost their lives more..

Apr 24 (Island) Sri Lanka were left with the only option of looking at their place (13th) in the points table to take inspiration after medal hopes in the 23rd Asian Athletics Championship vanished into thin air with a disappointing performance in their most prospective event, the women’s 800 metres final at the Khalifa Int'l Stadium here in Doha, Qatar on Monday. With sprinter Himasha Eshan’s hopes of featuring in the men’s 100 metres final dashed in the semis, more..

Apr 24 (Island) Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased to 2.9% in March 2019 from 2.4% in Feb 2019 mainly due to the low base that prevailed in the corresponding month of the previous year. Meanwhile, in March 2019, year-on-year Food and Non-food inflation recorded -2.3% and 7.1% respectively. more..

Apr 24 (BF) As news broke Sunday that multiple blasts in Sri Lanka had killed and injured hundreds, the country's officials announced that social media would be blocked to avoid the spread of rumors and disinformation. Facebook and Instagram were among the platforms temporarily shut down, according to the SL govt news portal. Websites that track blocked platforms said the ban extended to Instagram, Facebook, more..

Apr 24 (NR) Three people including singer Amal Perera, who were deported from Dubai and taken into the custody of the CID upon their arrival in Sri Lanka yesterday, have been released. Police Media Spokesman said the trio was released after their statements were recorded. Meanwhile another suspect who was arrested alongside Makandure Madush in Dubai and deported to Sri Lanka, arrived in the island this morning. more..

Apr 24 (DN) Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy speaking to Bloomberg TV said that the country was already seeing a great deal of normalcy. “Already we are already seeing a great deal of normalcy. The Central Bank is working. Our payments and settlements systems, our international operations, our domestic operations are all running. The country’s financial system will work through the day.” more..

Apr 24 (EN) Islamist suicide bombers who killed more than 300 people in co-ordinated attacks on churches and hotels were well-educated and well-off, State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said. Authorities said there were nine bombers and eight of them had been identified. All were Sri Lankan. "These people were financially well-off, well-educated people," Minister Wijewardene said. "They have LLM etc." more..

Apr 24 (AFP) Sri Lanka security forces detained 18 new suspects in the Easter bombings that killed more than 350 people, as the govt admitted Wednesday that major intelligence lapses had led to a failure to prevent the attacks. Islamic State group's claim of responsibility for Sunday's strikes on three hotels and three churches increased pressure over ignored warnings of the bombings, and the govt was expected to announce more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) The scale and sophistication of the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka suggested the involvement of an external group such as Islamic State, the U.S. ambassador said on Wednesday as the death toll jumped to 359. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the coordinated bomb attacks on churches and hotels but gave no evidence to support that. more..