Apr 22 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena says he will appoint a committee headed by a Supreme Court judge to conduct an inquiry into the explosions and their background. “President Maithripala Sirisena has stated that he will announce within the next 24 hours regarding the appointment of a Special Investigation Committee headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court to investigate causes and background for the grave national catastrophe that occurred today (21) claiming many lives.” more..

Apr 22 (DM) Minister Harin Fernando today tweeted the image of an internal memo and report by the police intelligence of a terror attack to be carried out by an organisation called National Thawheed Jamath. “Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. What my father heard was also from an intelligence officer. Serious action need to be taken as to why this warning was ignored. more..

Apr 22 (EN) SL’s main business lobbies have condemned Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks which killed at least 207 people, including tourists, and called for national unity and restraint. A statement by the Joint Chambers of Commerce said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the multiple attacks. “We strongly condemn these attacks. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by the explosions. “We urge the authorities to maintain law more..

Apr 22 (Metro) A Conservative MEP said he missed the explosions in Sri Lanka by an hour after he delayed leaving the airport. Nerj Deva claims he then arrived at his hotel to find tourists, waiters and members of staff had died in the lobby during the attacks. He told Sky News: ‘Our hearts and prayers and thoughts go to those families who are suffering as their loved ones are either dying or injured in hospital. ‘There is no sense to this absurd, disgusting act of senseless murder. more..

Apr 22 (DM) Two men checked into the Shangri-La which now takes pride of place in the heart of the city on April 20. They had provided an address in Dematagoda when checking in. Close to 9 a.m. yesterday the duo detonated two bombs. One at the packed restaurant cum cafeteria on the 3rd floor of the super luxurious hotel, at which many families had come to indulge in a scrumptious Easter Breakfast, and the next on the corridor more..

Apr 22 (DM) The Daily Mirror grieves for over 200 Sri Lankans who fell victim to multiple terrorist attacks yesterday. We stand with the loved ones of the victims in this most tragic moment. Needless to say, while we unreservedly condemn these dastardly and cowardly acts we emphasize that the perpetrators are terrorists and this descriptive overrides all other identities. We call upon all our fellow citizens to exercise the utmost caution when going about their routine activities and more..

Apr 22 (DM) The co-operatives (Known as Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies-MPCS) in the North have gained significant funds through the Budgets for 2018 and 2019. These allocations totalling over Rs 2.5 billion for producer and credit co-operatives are a strategy to revitalise the war-torn rural economy and provide relief to the indebted population in the North. What are the challenges facing the Northern co-operatives today? And are co-operatives the appropriate vehicle for more..

Apr 22 (Mirror) The first victims of the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka have been named as a TV chef and her daughter. Family of Shantha Mayadunne had been staying at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo which was one of four hotels bombed this morning. Shantha's daughter, Nisanga, posted a picture on Facebook shortly before the explosion showing Easter breakfast with my family. Nisanga had studied at Uni of London, more..

Apr 22 (GN) It has been a terrible day for Radha Fonseca, 34, a Sri Lankan expat living in Dubai who lost a college mate and hero both in one day. The mother-of-two woke up on Sunday to the terrible news of a series of blasts in Sri Lanka that has left hundreds of people dead and the number is still counting. The first thing she did, was to check on her loved ones and family. To her utter shock and sadness, she found her college mate more..

Apr 22 (MFA) Following the explosions that took place in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, earlier today, the number of foreign nationals who have been identified as deceased at the National Hospital in Colombo stands at eleven. The fatalities are: 3 from India, 1 from Portugal, 2 from Turkey, 3 from the UK, and 2 holding US and UK nationalities. Additionally, while nine foreign nationals are reported missing, more..

Apr 22 (AFP) As Shantha Prasad carried children wounded in Sri Lanka's deadly attacks into a Colombo hospital, memories of the country's deadly civil war flooded back. "I carried about eight wounded children yesterday," he told AFP on Monday, a day after a string of blasts hit hotels and churches, killing nearly 300 people. "There were two girls aged six and eight, the same age as my daughters," said Prasad, more..

Apr 22 (NDTV) The bomb attacks in Sri Lanka. have claimed the lives of three of the four children of the biggest shareholder in fashion e-tailer Asos. A spokesman for Anders Holch Povlsen, a Danish billionaire and Scotland’s largest private landowner, told multiple news outlets that the siblings were among the 290 people known to have died in a string of explosions. “Unfortunately, we can confirm the reports,” spokesman told BBC. more..

Apr 22 (DM) Islamic State supporters are celebrating the Sri Lanka suicide bombings which killed 290 people on Easter Sunday and left around another 500 injured. SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist activity online, said ISIS fanatics were praising the terror attacks as revenge for the Christchurch mosques shooting. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the blasts at 5-star hotels & churches more..

Apr 22 (BN) Sri Lanka has blamed local jihadist group National Thowheed Jamath for one of Asia’s deadliest terrorist attacks in years, admitting there had been several warnings from foreign intelligence agencies about the impending violence. The death toll rose to 290 in the coordinated blasts on Easter Sunday at churches and luxury hotels, which the govt said were carried out by seven suicide bombers. more..

Apr 22 (NDTV) The Interpol on Monday said it is ready to offer full support to the Sri Lankan authorities in investigating the country's deadliest terror attack that killed 290 people in a series of eight blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in the country. Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock in a Twitter message said, "Interpol strongly condemns the horrific attacks and has offered its full support to the investigation more..

Apr 22 (AD) Govt Analyst’s Department has confirmed that the attack on the three churches and the hotels in Colombo had been carried out by suicide bombers. A total of eight explosions occurred across the country since last morning in which 207 were killed and over 450 sustained injuries. Explosions were reported in St. Anthony’s Church in Kotahena, Katuwapitiya Church in Katana, Zion Church in Batticaloa and more..

Apr 22 (Guardian) Sri Lankan authorities were warned two weeks before the Easter Sunday attacks, and had the names of suspects, a cabinet spokesman has said, as the death toll from the string of bombings rose to 290, with about 500 injured. “Fourteen days before these incidents occurred, we had been informed about these incidents,” Rajitha Senaratne told a press conference in Colombo, on Monday. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Multiple explosions at three churches in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa and another three explosions at five-star hotels in the high security zone in the heart of Colombo on Easter Sunday morning sent shock waves throughout the country. All six major attacks took place between 8.45 am and 9.30 am killing over 200 and injuring over 450 individuals according to official confirmed figures released by last evening. Apart from health services and relief work carried out smoothly, more..

Apr 22 (FT) I posed the following question to a group of university students recently: Do you desire to have a strongman to rule SL today? The students, made up of both genders in the age group of 25 to 35, chorused the answer in the affirmative. When probed further, they revealed that SL very badly needed discipline in every aspect of life today and only a strongman could deliver it. But, they qualified the strongman to be a disciplined visionary in the calibre of Singapore’s strongman – more..

Apr 22 (AD) A controlled explosion is reported near St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade a short while ago. The explosion took place while the bomb disposal units of the STF were diffusing an explosive device found inside a van parked near the church. The damage caused by the explosion is yet to be uncovered. The security forces had found the van in question acting on the information obtained from interrogating the suspects who were arrested in connection with the series of explosions more..

Apr 22 (EN) At least one suicide bomber involve in Easter bombings that killed nearly 300 people in Sri Lanka had been arrested by police over an earlier incident but released on political pressure, ministers charged. Minister Kabir Hashim said a police probe into a radical group that had defaced Buddhist statues had led to several arrests but had been released on orders from higher authorities. Hashim said he understood that there was a political pressure to release the person. more..

Apr 22 (AP) St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo city was packed when Nilantha Lakmal arrived with his wife and three daughters for Easter Mass. The pews already full, the family joined dozens of others in the front garden, listening to the priest through the church's open doors. From the corner of his eye, Lakmal saw a man with a large blue backpack walking quickly down the left-hand aisle of the 1940s Gothic-style church, more..

Apr 22 (USE) Exercise increased caution in SL due to terrorism. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in SL. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. more..

Apr 22 (AD) Security in Colombo has been heightened over reports of suspicious activity in the area. An explosion occurred near the St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade a short while ago when the bomb disposal squad of the STF was arriving at the scene based on a tip-off that a bomb was located in a suspicious van parked in the area. The security forces were escorting an arrested suspect, when the public gathered at the scene made a commotion. However, the bomb inside the van went off more..

Apr 22 (EN) Thousands of tourists visiting Sri Lanka are cutting short their holiday plans and going back home, while forward bookings are falling rapidly, after blasts went off across the island including hotels, officials said. "I don't have an exact number, but it can be thousands trying to cut short their holidays and leave Sri Lanka early," Tourism Promotions Bureau & Tourism Development Authority Chairman Kishu Gomes said. more..

Apr 22 (Bernama) Malaysian defence minister Mohamad Sabu described the Easter terror attack that killed almost 300 people as an act of cowardice against innocent people and called for such violence to be totally eradicated. He said it is feared that the failure of the world to act quickly to combat such violence can give rise to radical groups that will resort to similar attacks. “It (this violence) will destroy world peace & damage the economy, which will have a detrimental effect on society. more..

Apr 22 (EN) Sri Lanka will invoke provision in emergency laws to battle radical group responsible for a series of bombings that left about 300 people including at least 30 foreigners dead, office of the President said. A decision was taken following a meeting of the National Security Council Tuesday morning to issue by gazette provisions in emergency laws dealing with terrorism, statement said. Minister Rajitha Senaratne said a formal decision on invoking emergency laws will be taken when more..

Apr 22 (Telegraph) Eight British nationals have been killed following the suspected terror attack in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, a senior diplomat has said, while three children of the billionaire owner of online fashion Asos were also named among the victims. SL High Commissioner to the UK, Manisha Gunasekera, said the number of British victims had risen to eight after it was previously reported five were killed in more..

Apr 22 (Tower) Israel has offered Sri Lanka assistance in the aftermath of devastating suicide bombings at churches and hotels on Easter Sunday that left nearly 300 people dead and more than 500 injured. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “deep shock over the murderous attacks against innocent civilians in Sri Lanka.” The Israeli leader, in a statement released on Sunday, said that “Israel stands ready to assist the authorities in Sri Lanka at this difficult time.” more..

Apr 22 (Metro) A 40 year-old publishing worker from Denver has been named as one of at least 290 people killed in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Dieter Kowalski’s death was confirmed by his boss John Fallon, CEO of publshing company Pearson, in a note sent to colleagues. He wrote: ‘I’m sorry to have to share the awful news that our colleague, Dieter Kowalski, was killed yesterday in the Easter Sunday atrocities in Sri Lanka. ‘Dieter had just arrived at his hotel, more..

Apr 22 (AD) INTERPOL is deploying a team to Sri Lanka to assist the national authorities investigating the series of bomb attacks at churches and hotels which left nearly 300 dead and some 500 injured. Checks are already being made against the Organization’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents and nominal databases in order to identify potential investigative leads and international connections. Deployed at the request of the SL authorities, more..

Apr 22 (EL) Edinburgh University's campus minister Dr Liam Fraser has launched a crowdfunder to raise money for the victims of the devastating series of bombings that took place in the country on Easter Sunday. A series of blasts, thought to be the work of suicide bombers, ripped through churches and luxury hotels yesterday, with five Brits among the dead - including three of the four children of Scotland's biggest landowner, Anders Holch Povlsen. more..

Apr 22 (SMH) And so it goes. There is a terrible echo in the blasts from Sri Lanka, and it is a form of blowback. Blowback is when an instrument, most often a weapon deployed for a particular purpose, returns to wreak unintended harm. Mustard gas reversing course on the whims of a wayward breeze in WWI would be an example, or the anti-Soviet Mujahideen turning their sights on the US homeland. Right now, our world is awash with blowback, from Kabul to Christchurch to Colombo. more..

Apr 22 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena president over an emergency meeting of National Security Council today and following decisions were taken at the meeting. The govt has decided to Gazette the anti-terrorism legal clauses to be effective with effect from midnight today. This step has been taken to empower police to take effective measures to safeguard security of the people and the country. more..

Apr 22 (EN) Shangri-La Int'l Hotel Management Ltd. said its hotel in Colombo will be closed till further notice following Easter Sunday’s suicide attacks. “Our hotel remains secured by the military and the police. We have also decided that the hotel will be closed until further notice,” a statement said. “It is with great sadness that we confirm that we are aware of a number of casualties among our guests and colleagues. This includes three of our colleagues who were fatally injured more..

Apr 22 (NYT) The true toll of Sunday’s attacks in Sri Lanka was starting to come into focus on Monday, as family members, govt officials and news reports offered the first glimpse of the people who lost their lives. Officials have confirmed citizens from at least eight countries, including the United States, were killed in the attacks. Information about Sri Lankan victims was sparse, but the names of some foreign victims began to appear in the int'l news media, a few of which The Times was able to confirm. more..

Apr 22 (CG) Army says the Police did not share any intelligence report of a possible attack on churches and other locations. Army Commander, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said that there was a lapse in intelligence sharing. Senanayake said that the Army has sought an integrated system for intelligence sharing. He said that the Army is also seeking authority to investigate and make arrests. more..

Apr 22 (ANI) Buddhist monks at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya conducted a prayer meeting and took out a candlelight march last night for the victims of the serial bombings that took place in Sri Lanka on April 21. "Many civilians were killed in the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. I think that terrorism should have no place in this world. This prayer is for the peace of the souls of those who died in the attack," said a Buddhist monk. At least 207 people have lost their lives in the multiple blast more..

Apr 22 (T&C) One day after suicide bombers killed nearly 300 people in coordinated attacks at luxury hotels and Easter Sunday services at churches in Sri Lanka, the British royal family is sending their sympathies to the country. Queen Elizabeth issued a statement this morning, in which she and Prince Philip not only sent condolences, but also paid tribute to those who provided emergency services in the aftermath of the blasts. It reads in full: Prince Philip and I were deeply saddened more..