Apr 23 (CT) The Govt has committed a grave crime by not informing the public and the Cardinal of the Catholic Church about high-priority intelligence information it had received well in advance, with regard to a planned and coordinated terror attack on the churches and the star class hotels on Easter Sunday. Had the Govt acted with full responsibility, which is inherently expected of it, over 290 lives could have been saved. more..

Apr 23 (FT) In the wake of the deadly Easter Sunday bomb attacks that claimed 290 lives across the country, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) called Sri Lankans to move for collective actions together and not to fall into a new conflict at a time when the 10th anniversary of the end of previous conflict is just around the corner. “Sunday 21 April will go down in Sri Lanka’s history as one of the worst days that we woke up to. more..

Apr 23 (Island) Western Province Governor Azath Salley yesterday told The Island that the govt couldn’t under any circumstances absolve itself of the responsibility for the Easter Sunday carnage. An irate Salley said that in spite of grave personal risk, he told President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando of the serious threat posed by extremist Thaweed Jamath. more..

Apr 23 (AD) CCTV footage of the suicide bomber, who is responsible for the Katuwapitiya Church explosion, entering the Church and setting off the bomb, has been released to the media. Accordingly, the arrival of the suicide bomber is marked on the first CCTV camera at around 8.56 am and at around 8.59 am, he enters the church premises. The CCTV camera inside the Church has recorded the suicide bomber entering more..

Apr 23 (DM) Only a day after three suicide bomb attacks and three other explosions rocked the capital Colombo, the city was seen slowly returning to life on Monday morning. Yet, less vehicle movements were seen in most of the roads. On Easter Sunday morning, three suicide bombers claimed many lives at the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand Hotels. The same afternoon, two explosions were also reported from Dehiwala more..

Apr 23 (Island) UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman alleged that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe hadn’t been invited to the National Security Council (NSC) following the Oct 26, 2018 constitutional coup. Therefore, the proposed govt inquiry into the multiple attacks on Easter Sunday headed by a retired SC judge should inquire into the failure on the part of Prez Sirisena’s Office to invite PM or State Defence Minister to NSC. more..

Apr 23 (Hindu) Following the Easter blasts, groups with Thowheed in their names have come in for scrutiny in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. Soon after Sri Lanka named Islamist radical group National Thowheed Jamaath as the outfit behind the Easter Day serial blasts, other organisations with similar names came under sharp scrutiny. However, the organisations not only condemned Sunday’s attacks, but voiced more..

Apr 23 (EN) Islamist National Thowfeeth Jama'at group which had bombed churches and hotels which killed over 300 persons in Sri Lanka had close links with another organization called JMI, State Minister for Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene said. "This National Thowfeeth Jama'at group which carried out the attacks had close links with JMI it has now been revealed," Wijewardene told a special session of parliament Wednesday. more..

Apr 23 (DM) With interrogation of suspects and other evidence pointing to the involvement of a large number of women in Easter Sunday attacks, the govt has yesterday initiated moves in view of a possible ban of burqa and niqab in SL, a highly placed govt source said. The govt, he said, is planning to implement the move in consultation with the mosque authorities and yesterday several ministers had spoken to President more..

Apr 23 (CT) This harebrained and cavalier Govt has proven anew its ineptitude in ruling the country, yet in a most appalling manner. The Govt cannot be pardoned for its lackadaisical approach with regard to the most important responsibility of any govt, which is the assurance of security of country’s citizens. It is revealed that the intelligence information with regard to a terror attack had reached the respective authorities ahead of the tragedy, albeit those politicians who are on more..

Apr 23 (FT) Almost five months have gone. It is with a profound sense of sadness that we experienced the demise of our veteran teacher, respected author, legal luminary, an accomplished ambassador, an eminent public servant and an amazing human being, Dr. Wickrema Weerasooria. He was a patriarch for the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), passionately involving in multiple fronts for the progress of it during the past two decades, as a longstanding member more..

Apr 23 (EN) Stock market closed 3.63% lower on Tuesday, the worst daily fall in seven years, following the Easter Sunday bombings which targeted churches and hotels All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed 203.77 points down at 5,402.58, reversing a four-day gain up to 5,606.35, and a general upward momentum since March 27, when the index had been at 5,511.77. Before the bombings, First Capital Research had said more..

Apr 23 (WAM) UNICEF says it is working closely with Govt partners to collect reliable information on situation of children and adolescents impacted by the recent terrible violence in SL. In a statement, the Fund expressed deepest sympathy to the victims, families and communities impacted by these brutal attacks. UNICEF estimated that 27 children died and 10 were injured in St Sebastian’s Church Katuwapitiya, Negombo, 13 in in Batticaloa, with the youngest victim just 18 months old. more..

Apr 23 (AFP) Muslim brothers carried out two of the hotel suicide blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, part of a wave of bombings that killed more than 320 people, police sources told AFP. The brothers, sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader, blew themselves up as guests queued for breakfast at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the capital, the source said. The sources also revealed that a fourth hotel was targeted in the string of bombings, but the attack failed. more..

Apr 23 (DM) ISIS have claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka bombings which officials believe were retaliation for the Christchurch mosque shootings - as it was revealed an attack on a fourth hotel failed. Chilling CCTV footage released today shows one of the attackers carrying a large backpack as he walked into St Sebastian's Church in Colombo. Size of the backpacks suggests the bombers used crude devices made locally. more..

Apr 23 (BBC) Sri Lanka has held its first mass funeral amid a day of mourning for the victims of Sunday's bomb blasts. The death toll from the attacks on churches and hotels has risen to 321 with about 500 wounded, police said. A state of emergency is in effect to prevent further attacks. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed the attack on Tuesday via its news outlet. Sri Lanka's govt has blamed the blasts on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ). more..

Apr 23 (SCMP) China has warned its citizens not to travel to Sri Lanka after a series of explosions on Easter Sunday resulted in the deaths of 310 people, including one Chinese national. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy to SL remind Chinese nationals not to travel to SL in the near term,” a statement posted on the embassy’s website read. “Those already here, please step up safety precautions, try to stay away from crowded areas and pay attention to safety reminders more..

Apr 23 (HT) National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ), the little known group blamed for the bombing of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday, appears to have been inspired by Islamic State (IS) though direct links between the two are yet to be established, people familiar with developments said on Monday. India is helping SL probe the attacks with technical and intelligence support, and Indian security agencies are more..

Apr 23 (Sputnik) After working for the Etihad Airways in the UAE for more than ten years, Sheik Hasmathullah, a Muslim from Negombo, Sri Lanka, decided to return home in January 2018 for the sake of offering his children a better education. However, the 33-year-old father’s plan faced serious disruption after deadly blasts rocked several Christian churches and high-end hotels in a number of cities in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing over 300 people with about 500 others injured. more..

Apr 23 (AD) MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated that the govt including UNP MP Mujibur Rahman should bear the responsibility for the series of explosions which occurred around the country on Easter Sunday. MP Rajapakshe mentioned this at the special parliamentary meeting held today. According to him, on Nov 18th, 2016, he stated that 32 persons from 4 families in the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) organization had received ISIS training and is preparing for a terror attack in the country. more..

Apr 23 (AD) Leader of Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa says instructing officials on the manner in which they should conduct themselves in relation to matters involving national security is the task of the govt. He stated this addressing the special parliamentary session convened this afternoon (23). “After we ended the 30-year war on 19 May 2009, we all thought we had seen the last of such attacks,” Opposition Leader stated. more..

Apr 23 (DM) UNP MP Sarath Fonseka said today the govts that were in office since 2010 should be held responsible for the series of terror attacks on Easter Sunday and pointed out that it was not fair to blame only the IGP. He told a news conference that the terror attacks might have been planned for quite a sometime and as such both govts should be held responsible for the attacks. “It is reported that the incumbent govt was informed of imminent terror attacks in the country. more..

Apr 23 (Island) A stock of explosives was unearthed in a homestead of a resident at Erukkalampitti in Ouluthuduwai, Mannar by the police, yesterday. The landowner, while cleaning his garden, noticed the stock of explosives and informed the police. The explosives had been hidden in a plastic barrel buried in the garden, police said. On the orders of Mannar Magistrate the stock of explosives would be defused and unearthed by the members of the STF bomb disposal unit, the police said. more..

Apr 23 (EN) Muslim civil society movements and associations in Sri Lanka Tuesday condemned Easter Sunday’s suicide bombings which killed over 300 people, saying extremism in the name of Islam does not represent the religion. A joint statement by leaders and members of civil society, Islamic and Muslim associations and movements, said they were “are horrified by the events of Easter Sunday, which resulted in more..

Apr 23 (DM) Sri Lankan police have detained a Syrian among 40 people who are being questioned about the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels, Hindustan Times reported quoting govt and military sources. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which officials said were carried out by at least seven suicide bombers on three churches and three hotels. However, the focus of suspicion is falling on Islamist militants with links to foreign groups. more..

Apr 23 (APP) Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Geng Shuang Tuesday said China firmly stood by Sri Lankan people and supported the govt in safeguarding national security and stability. “A series of explosions in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and other places have affected the hearts of the Chinese people. At this moment of sorrow, China firmly stands with the Sri Lankan people and firmly supports the Sri Lankan side in safeguarding national security and stability,” more..

Apr 23 (AJ) SL's Easter Sunday bombings were retaliation for a recent attack on mosques in New Zealand, country's state minister of defence said. Ruwan Wijewardene made the comment to politicians in parliament on Tuesday without providing evidence or explaining where the information came from about the attacks that killed 321 people. "The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in SL was more..

Apr 23 (Island) Eyebrows were raised yesterday at the National Security Council meeting, by the presence of opposition MPs Dayasiri Jayasekera, Thialnga Sumathipala, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Faiszer Musthapha who were brought in by Prez Sirisena. Sources said, Opposition MPs were not usually present at the National Security Council meetings.Security Forces Chiefs and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were not present to address the PM on the current situation. more..

Apr 23 (Island) The JVP, blamed the Easter Sunday attacks on the failure on the part of the political leadership to on the information provided by the state intelligence. JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said that Sunday’s brutal attacks could have been prevented if the govt had acted at the right time. "The govt has its own political agendas and it failed to focus on national security even though provided with necessary information on the possible security threats," Herath said. more..

Apr 23 (DM) Making a special statement in parliament, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said the govt would eradicate terrorism with the assistance offered by the int'l community. He said this in a special statement he made in Parliament and added that the country had been offered assistance by many countries and international organisations including the UN to combat terrorism. PM said US Prez Donald Trump, Indian PM Narendra more..

Apr 23 (DM) The billionaire Asos owner who lost three of his four children in the SL terror attacks was reportedly injured himself during the blasts on Easter Sunday, which killed at least 320 people. Anders Holch Povlsen, who is Scotland's biggest landowner with 220,000 acres to his name, was staying with his family at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, when it was targeted by suicide bombers. Denmark's ambassador to India, confirmed that one of the family members was injured more..

Apr 23 (EN) Investigators are going after members of an Islamist group that carried out deadly Easter Sunday bombings and identifying their safe houses in a bid to close the terror network, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. "There are a few people on the run, so we have to apprehend them," he told foreign correspondents in Colombo. Police had said that they are looking for a vehicle which may have explosives. Authorities have also said that there was a bomber targeting a fourth hotel more..

Apr 23 (CI) SL cricketer Dasun Shanaka was among the many who narrowly survived the serial blasts that rocked the island on Easter Sunday morning, leaving almost 300 dead and more than 500 injured. It might have unravelled very differently for Shanaka, the 27-year-old international allrounder, had he attended Sunday morning mass at St Sebastian's Church in Negombo, his hometown, that day with his mother and grandmother. more..

Apr 24 (CT) Today (23) is a day of national mourning in honor of all the victims of the evil forces let loose last Easter Sunday when Christians proclaimed and celebrated victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ. We as a whole nation of many ethnicities and religions are one in observing this national mourning in sympathy with the victims of this horror but also as a protest against the forces of evil against humanity. Although the horrific incidents occurred in particular places more..

Apr 24 (GV) SL experienced its worst terrorist attack since the end of the war on 21 April. The country is still reeling from the scale and lethality of the multiple explosions, and there is no clarity yet as to the perpetrators and their aims. But what is emerging piecemeal in the aftermath of the attack is a picture of quite incredible incompetence and negligence on the part of those vested with the responsibility for the safety and security of citizens (and indeed, our guests) at the highest levels more..

Apr 24 (GV) We have been here before. This blooded precipice is familiar, this looming abyss. What is unfamiliar, what renders the Easter Sunday massacre most vile and truly nightmarish is the total absence of any knowable rationality. There is no context to this horror, no back-story; it cannot be framed, politically or historically. Other massacres were presaged; this one fell on an unsuspecting people, a killer-bolt on a clear more..

Apr 24 (CT) Never in the history of SL has there been such a masterly engineered and flawlessly executed terror attack on soft targets to bring down a calamity of incalculable magnitude. These heartless and mentally deranged criminals who masterminded this mayhem have no religion, no morals and not even an iota of love for humanity. They are the scum of society. The country and its people are obviously in a state of shock. It will take several more Easters and years to forget more..

Apr 24 (Island) Soon after the Easter Sunday carnage, one-time Norwegian peace negotiator Erik Solheim tweeted: "When we watch the horrific pictures from SL, it is important to remember that Muslims and Christians are small minorities. Muslims historically were moderate and peaceful. They have been victims of violence in SL, not orchestrating it." UN’s environment chief, Erik Solheim resigned early this year following severe criticism of his global travels and internal more..

Apr 24 (DM) On December 26 last year, scores of Buddhist statues in Mawanella were vandalized. A CID investigation led to the arrest of seven suspects, including one who was caught by the locals, allegedly while undertaking the act of vandalism. Suspects were accused of being members of a radical Islamic group. They were charged under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, produced before more..

Apr 24 (Island) Following the Easter Sunday carnage, the govt, badly exposed for its failure to ensure public safety, is trying to do something biblical. It is trying to lay all its sins on IGP Pujith Jayasundara and get rid of him. But whether it will be able to hoodwink the public by making a scapegoat of the police chief is doubtful. The credit for the country’s successful war on drugs has not been given to the IGP or any other senior police officer, for that matter. more..