Colombo: A nation-wide emergency from midnight on Monday will come into force in Sri Lanka following Sunday''s serial blasts in which nearly 300 people, including six Indians and other foreign nationals, died and 500 were wounded. The decision to clamp emergency was taken at an emergency meeting of National Security Council. "The National Security Council has decided to gazette the clauses in the prevention of terrorism under Emergency Regulations with effect from midnight today (April22)," said a government statement. This step has been taken to empower police to take effective measures to safeguard security of the people and the country, it said.
Curfew will also be imposed island-wide beginning from 8 pm to 4 am Tuesday, the government said. President Sirisena has appointed a three-member committee to investigate the explosions. The committee comprises Supreme Court judge Vijith Malalgoda, former secretary Dadmasiri Jayamanna and former Inspector General of Police N.K. Ilangakoon. The committee has been tasked to investigate matters related to the blasts, the background and other factors connected to the incidents and submit a report within two weeks.
Police have arrested 24 suspects in connection with the eight explosions in St.Anthony''s Church in Kotahena, Katuwapitiya Church in Katana, Zion Church in Batticaloa and Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels in Colombo, a reception hall near the Zoological Garden in Dehiwala and at Maha Wila Gardens housing scheme in Dematagoda. Health Minister and government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said that the links between a local outfit, National Tawheed Jamath, suspected to be responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks will be investigated for its international links. "We don''t see that only a small organisation in this country can do all that. We are now investigating the international support for them, and their other links, how they produced the suicide bombers here, and how they produced bombs like this," he said at a news conference.
President Sirisena will meet the ambassadors and high commissioners to brief them on the developments and seek international assistance. The intelligence agencies have reported that there were international organizations behind these acts of local terrorists. Therefore, it has been decided to seek international assistance for investigations. Top Muslim leaders of the country meanwhile demanded "maximum punishment" for the perpetrators of suicide bomb attacks. The government has confirmed that the attack on the three churches and the hotels in Colombo had been carried out by suicide bombers. Sri Lanka will observe Tuesday as the Day of National Mourning for the victims of the terrorist attacks.
India has offered to provide all humanitarian assistance. "In case required, we are ready to despatch our medical teams as well," said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet. In another tweet, she confirmed the deaths of two more individuals - Vemurai Tulsiram and S R Nagaraj - in the blasts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to the Sri lankan president and prime minister and offered all assistance to ensure security in the island-nation.
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