Sri Lankan government defeats no-confidence motion over Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 250 people
5 years, 5 months ago

Sri Lankan government defeats no-confidence motion over Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 250 people

Firstpost  

The Sri Lankan government on Thursday defeated a no-confidence motion brought by an opposition party over what it called ‘criminal negligence’ in failing to prevent Easter Day bomb attacks Colombo: The Sri Lankan government on Thursday defeated a no-confidence motion brought by an opposition party over what it called “criminal negligence” in failing to prevent Easter Day bomb attacks on hotels and churches that killed more than 250 people. The motion, brought by the small Marxist opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or Peoples Liberation Front, was defeated by 119-92 votes. The suicide bomb attacks on April 21, targeting three churches and three luxury hotels, sent shockwaves through the Indian Ocean island state, which had enjoyed relative peace since a civil war ended a decade ago. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, though Sri Lankan authorities have blamed two little known domestic Islamist groups: the National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim.

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History of this topic

Parliamentary polls: Dawn of a new political era in Sri Lanka
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Parliamentary polls: Dawn of a new political era in Sri Lanka

New Indian Express  

Less than three months after the installation of a new executive president, Sri Lankans are voting on Thursday to elect 196 members to the next parliament. Forming a part of the JVP’s violent history is the bombing of the Sri Lanka parliament on August 18, 1987, a period of political turmoil. By then, the JVP had launched its second armed …

Sri Lanka Reopens Probe into 2019 Easter Bombings, Ten Years Later
3 months ago

Sri Lanka Reopens Probe into 2019 Easter Bombings, Ten Years Later

The Hindu  

Sri Lanka's new government announces a probe into the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people. The previous investigations failed to identify other culprits responsible for the attack. The government wants to find out why there were irregularities in the previous investigations, take a fresh look at the incident, expose the culprits, and bring them to justice.

Easter Sunday bombings: Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena settles compensation for victims
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Easter Sunday bombings: Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena settles compensation for victims

The Hindu  

Sri Lanka's former President Maithripala Sirisena has settled in full the SLR 100 million compensation for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 270 people, including 11 Indians, during his tenure. Mr. Sirisena was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay SLRs 100 million as compensation to victims for his negligence in preventing the country’s one of …

Former Sri Lankan president denies that suicide bombings were staged to enable his election
1 year, 4 months ago

Former Sri Lankan president denies that suicide bombings were staged to enable his election

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday denied allegations in a British television program that Islamic State-inspired extremists were used to carry out suicide bomb attacks in 2019 to create insecurity in the country and help him win election later that year. He said the documentary on Britain’s Channel 4 television was “mostly an anti-Rajapaksa …

Sri Lanka will investigate allegations of intelligence complicity in 2019 Easter bombings
1 year, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka will investigate allegations of intelligence complicity in 2019 Easter bombings

The Hindu  

Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that Sri Lankan intelligence had complicity in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people. A man interviewed in the Channel 4 videos released on Tuesday said he arranged a meeting between a local Islamic State-inspired group and a top state intelligence …

Sri Lanka will investigate allegations of intelligence complicity in 2019 Easter bombings
1 year, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka will investigate allegations of intelligence complicity in 2019 Easter bombings

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that officials with the South Asian country’s intelligence had complicity in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people, including 42 foreigners from 14 countries. Channel 4 interviewed a man interviewed who said he arranged a meeting between …

Sri Lanka to probe allegation of intelligence complicity in 2019 bombings
1 year, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka to probe allegation of intelligence complicity in 2019 bombings

Al Jazeera  

British TV report alleges a top Sri Lankan intelligence official hatched the deadly Easter Sunday bombings plot to help Rajapaksa win the election. Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that Sri Lankan intelligence had complicity in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people. A man interviewed in …

Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of official complicity in 2019 Easter bombings
1 year, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of official complicity in 2019 Easter bombings

LA Times  

Six near-simultaneous suicide bombings in churches and tourist hotels in Sri Lanka in April 2019 killed 269 people. Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that Sri Lankan intelligence was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people. A man interviewed in videos aired by Britain’s Channel …

Sri Lanka marks 4th anniversary of Easter Sunday terror attacks
1 year, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka marks 4th anniversary of Easter Sunday terror attacks

The Hindu  

COLOMBO Sri Lanka on April 21 marked the 4th anniversary of the Easter Sunday terror bombings that shook the island nation on April 21, 2019, even as families of victims marched, and many gathered outside churches, demanding truth and justice. Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church, especially the Archbishop of Colombo Archdiocese Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has been raising concern over authorities’ “slow-paced” …

Sri Lanka's President assures justice for Easter Sunday victims
1 year, 9 months ago

Sri Lanka's President assures justice for Easter Sunday victims

The Hindu  

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on April 9 assured justice for all the victims of the 2019 Easter bombings in which 270 people, including 11 Indians, were killed, saying legal proceedings are being processed independently and impartially, without any influence. On April 21, 2019, nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat linked to ISIS …

Sri Lanka's ex-President Sirisena apologises for 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
1 year, 11 months ago

Sri Lanka's ex-President Sirisena apologises for 2019 Easter Sunday bombings

The Hindu  

Sri Lanka’s former President Maithripala Sirisena on January 31 extended an apology to the country's minority Catholic community for the devastating 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 270 people, including 11 Indians. Nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat linked to ISIS carried out a series of blasts that tore through three Catholic …

Sri Lanka Easter attacks | Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena named suspect
2 years, 3 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter attacks | Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena named suspect

The Hindu  

A Sri Lankan court on Friday named former President Maithripala Sirisena a suspect in a case pertaining to the 2019 Easter terror bombings and directed him to appear in court this October. ‘Grand political plot’ In March, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told the UN Human Rights Council that the incident was a “grand political plot”. A parliamentary select …

Sri Lanka Crisis | Island-wide curfew imposed; youth dies after being tear-gassed
2 years, 5 months ago

Sri Lanka Crisis | Island-wide curfew imposed; youth dies after being tear-gassed

India TV News  

Sri Lanka crisis: Sri Lanka's Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday asked Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition. In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe held a meeting with the Members of the Cabinet at his office on Monday. …

Sri Lanka crisis: Opposition parties to meet today over formation of all-party government
2 years, 6 months ago

Sri Lanka crisis: Opposition parties to meet today over formation of all-party government

India TV News  

Sri Lanka crisis: A day after Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would resign after an all-party government is formed, Sri Lanka's main Opposition parties are expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday to forge consensus on establishing an all-party government. The meeting of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya and its constituent parties will be attended by …

Pressure mounts on Sri Lanka leader to quit as crisis grows
2 years, 9 months ago

Pressure mounts on Sri Lanka leader to quit as crisis grows

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Thousands of Sri Lankans rallied in the country’s main business district and Christian clergy marched in the capital to observe a day of protest on Saturday calling on the debt-ridden nation’s president to resign, as anxiety and anger over shortages simmered. Jayasinghe said she voted for Rajapaksa believing he was the best candidate to restore national …

Sri Lanka clears police, defence chiefs over Easter bombings
2 years, 10 months ago

Sri Lanka clears police, defence chiefs over Easter bombings

The Hindu  

Sri Lanka's High Court on Friday acquitted two top officials accused of "crimes against humanity" for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. The state had indicted the two men in November for failing to act on early warnings from an Indian intelligence agency that local jihadists were planning a string of suicide bombings in …

Church: Talks on Sri Lankan blasts require gov’t credibility
3 years, 4 months ago

Church: Talks on Sri Lankan blasts require gov’t credibility

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Sri Lankan Roman Catholic leader has said the government must win back the confidence of the church before the two sides can hold talks on the church’s criticisms of inquiries into 2019 Easter Sunday bomb blasts that killed 269 people. The Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the Vatican’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, …

Sri Lanka files charges against 25 Easter Sunday bombing suspects
3 years, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka files charges against 25 Easter Sunday bombing suspects

Al Jazeera  

Sri Lanka has filed 23,270 charges against 25 people in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels that killed 269 people, according to the president’s office. Two local Muslim groups that allegedly pledged allegiance to the ISIL group were blamed for the six near-simultaneous suicide bomb attacks which hit three churches and three hotels …

Easter bombings: Sri Lanka probes charges against spy agencies
3 years, 5 months ago

Easter bombings: Sri Lanka probes charges against spy agencies

Al Jazeera  

President orders investigation into allegations that some intelligence officials knew and met with people who carried out 2019 bombings. Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered an investigation into allegations that some members of state intelligence agencies knew and met with people who carried out Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 that killed more than 260 people, a government official said. …

Sri Lanka Easter Attack Probe Panel Summons Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
4 years, 4 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter Attack Probe Panel Summons Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe

News 18  

Sri Lanka's former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who suffered a crushing defeat in the parliamentary polls, has been summoned by a presidential probe panel on August 18 to record his statement on the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, officials said on Tuesday. Nine suicide bombers belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat linked to ISIS carried out a series …

So many questions unanswered: Kumar Sangakkara on Sri Lanka Easter bombing
4 years, 8 months ago

So many questions unanswered: Kumar Sangakkara on Sri Lanka Easter bombing

India TV News  

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday said someone must answer to the questions which are still unanswered in regards to the Sri Lanka Easter bombing last year. So many questions still unanswered, but answer them someone must," Sangakkara tweeted as people across the world celebrated Easter on Sunday. Sri Lanka celebrated a quiet Easter Sunday amid the coronavirus …

Sri Lanka appoints 6-member team to fast track probe into Easter Sunday attack
4 years, 10 months ago

Sri Lanka appoints 6-member team to fast track probe into Easter Sunday attack

Deccan Chronicle  

Colombo: The Sri Lankan government on Sunday appointed a six-member team to help police collect authentic information and expedite an ongoing presidential probe into the devastating Easter Sunday terror attack that killed over 250 people. The 6-member task force has been appointed to help police's CID to "speed up the ongoing investigations" and will submit weekly reports to the defense …

Sri Lanka spy chief, president blamed for Easter attack lapses
5 years, 2 months ago

Sri Lanka spy chief, president blamed for Easter attack lapses

Al Jazeera  

Parliament inquiry says bitter feud between president and prime minister led to security lapses before attacks. A Sri Lankan parliamentary committee that investigated last April’s Easter suicide bombings has concluded the country’s spy chief was primarily responsible for the intelligence failure that led to the death of 259 people in the attacks. In a report released on Wednesday, the committee …

Sri Lanka President blamed for Easter attacks lapses
5 years, 2 months ago

Sri Lanka President blamed for Easter attacks lapses

The Hindu  

A parliamentary panel in Sri Lanka has accused President Maithripala Sirisena of “actively undermining” government and security systems, leading to serious lapses ahead of the Easter terror attacks. “This failure by the SIS has resulted in hundreds of deaths, many more injured and immeasurable devastation to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans and that must not be treated lightly,” the report …

Easter Sunday bombings: Muslim ministers in Sri Lanka rejoin govt after investigators found no link with local Islamist extremist group
5 years, 5 months ago

Easter Sunday bombings: Muslim ministers in Sri Lanka rejoin govt after investigators found no link with local Islamist extremist group

Firstpost  

Four Sri Lankan Muslim ministers, who resigned following the Easter Sunday bombings have rejoined government. Colombo: Four Sri Lankan Muslim ministers, who resigned following the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 258 people, have rejoined the government after investigators found no link in their alleged involvement with a local Islamist extremist group. Badiyudeen was targeted by the Opposition which demanded his …

All suspects of Easter terror attacks arrested: Sri Lanka Prez
5 years, 5 months ago

All suspects of Easter terror attacks arrested: Sri Lanka Prez

The Quint  

Colombo, July 17 Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that all suspects involved in the Easter Sunday terror explosions had been arrested following extensive investigations and search operations carried out by security forces and the suspects may receive the death penalty as there was clear evidence against them, media reported on Wednesday. Speaking at a function in Malabe, the outskirts …

Easter Sunday bombings: International drug syndicates orchestrated attacks, says Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena
5 years, 5 months ago

Easter Sunday bombings: International drug syndicates orchestrated attacks, says Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena

Firstpost  

International drug syndicates orchestrated Sri Lanka’s deadly Easter Sunday bombings, the country’s leader claimed on Monday, despite earlier blaming the attacks on Islamists Colombo: International drug syndicates orchestrated Sri Lanka’s deadly Easter Sunday bombings, the country’s leader claimed on Monday, despite earlier blaming the attacks on Islamists. But in a statement issued by his office Monday, Sirisena said the attacks …

Ranil Wickremesinghe to appear before Sri Lankan parliamentary select committee over Easter Sunday bombings
5 years, 5 months ago

Ranil Wickremesinghe to appear before Sri Lankan parliamentary select committee over Easter Sunday bombings

Firstpost  

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee probing the Easter Sunday attacks that claimed 258 lives Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee probing the Easter Sunday attacks that claimed 258 lives and would provide all available information, according to a …

No-confidence motion against Sri Lanka govt. defeated
5 years, 5 months ago

No-confidence motion against Sri Lanka govt. defeated

The Hindu  

A trust vote on the government presented by the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in Sri Lankan Parliament was defeated on Thursday with a majority of 119 legislators in the 225-member House voting against it. The leftist JVP or Peoples’ Liberation Front, an opposition party, on Wednesday submitted a motion accusing the ruling coalition of failing to prevent the April 21 …

Sri Lanka Easter bombings: Two of nine Muslim ministers return to govt after resigning over 'anti-minority sentiments'
5 years, 6 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter bombings: Two of nine Muslim ministers return to govt after resigning over 'anti-minority sentiments'

Firstpost  

Two of the nine Sri Lankan Muslim ministers, who had resigned in the wake of growing anti-minority sentiments following the Easter Sunday bombings, returned to the government fold on Wednesday. Colombo: Two of the nine Sri Lankan Muslim ministers, who had resigned in the wake of growing anti-minority sentiments following the Easter Sunday bombings, returned to the government fold on …

Sri Lanka Easter blast mastermind linked to three Islamic State cases in India: NIA
5 years, 6 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter blast mastermind linked to three Islamic State cases in India: NIA

The Hindu  

Zahran Hashim, the Sri Lankan mastermind of the April 21 Easter attacks in Sri Lanka, has emerged as a common link in at least three Islamic State related cases, including the latest IS module busted in Coimbatore, an National Investigation Agency probe has revealed. The NIA said so far no explosives had been found during searches at the house and …

Sri Lankan govt resumes parliamentary probe into Easter blasts despite President Sirisena's objections
5 years, 6 months ago

Sri Lankan govt resumes parliamentary probe into Easter blasts despite President Sirisena's objections

India Today  

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday began the Parliamentary Select Committee investigation into the security lapses surrounding the Easter Sunday suicide attacks that killed 258 people including 11 Indians, despite strong objection by President Maithripala Sirisena. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is the head of the Cabinet, warned last week that he would not attend the Cabinet unless the government took …

Sri Lankan President Vows to Block Easter Attack Probe
5 years, 7 months ago

Sri Lankan President Vows to Block Easter Attack Probe

The Quint  

Just last week, Sirisena's intelligence chief Sisira Mendis exposed that the president had failed to hold regular security review meetings to assess potential threats from Islamic radicals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday. Modi’s itinerary includes meeting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and Tamil National Alliance leader …

National Thowheeth Jamath, two other Islamist extremist organisations banned in Sri Lanka; use of drones prohibited indefinitely
5 years, 7 months ago

National Thowheeth Jamath, two other Islamist extremist organisations banned in Sri Lanka; use of drones prohibited indefinitely

Firstpost  

Sri Lanka has banned three Islamist extremist groups, including the National Thowheeth Jama’ath that carried out the country’s worst terror attack on Easter Sunday in which over 250 people were killed Colombo: Sri Lankan government has banned three Islamist extremist groups, including the National Thowheeth Jama’ath that carried out the country’s worst terror attack on Easter Sunday in which over …

Sri Lanka bombings: A small town shaken by threat of terror
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka bombings: A small town shaken by threat of terror

The Hindu  

“Is the font okay?” a young man at the computer asked M.I. Let’s put up this message on all three gates,” said Mr. Majeed, secretary of the Jumma mosque in Sainthamaruthu, located in the southeastern Ampara district. The moment some people in the locality sensed something suspicious, they alerted the police,” said Abdul Rafeek, a member of the municipal council …

Islamic State planning 'new strategy' to target smaller countries, claims Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena
5 years, 8 months ago

Islamic State planning 'new strategy' to target smaller countries, claims Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena

Firstpost  

Maithripala Sirisena said the analysis of the explosives and devices taken into custody suggested that the bombs used in the coordinated terror attacks on 21 April, which rattled several churches and high-end hotels across the country, were made locally Colombo: It is quite possible that the Islamic State has launched a “new strategy” by beginning to target smaller countries, says …

Lanka terror: Abettors from Tamil Nadu
5 years, 8 months ago

Lanka terror: Abettors from Tamil Nadu

New Indian Express  

Earlier in the day, Indian strategic expert Brahma Chellaney had asserted it was an NTJ strike. Even on the next day, when it had become clear that NTJ was the culprit, a cabinet minister of the Sri Lankan government said, “We don’t see that a small organisation in this country can do all that”— pointing to how they would have …

Sri Lanka receives intelligence inputs of attacks planned on Buddhist temples by female bombers posing as devotees
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka receives intelligence inputs of attacks planned on Buddhist temples by female bombers posing as devotees

Op India  

According to media reports, Sri Lanka’s Intelligence agency has received inputs of possible attacks on Buddhist temples by female bombers of the banned local terror outfit National Thawheeth Jamath posing as devotees. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that amongst the nine bombers who executed the dastardly Easter Sunday attack, there was a female suicide bomber too. As a security measure in …

Attacks show terrorism's growing reach
5 years, 8 months ago

Attacks show terrorism's growing reach

China Daily  

Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019. The group National Thowheed Jamath, banned by the Sri Lanka government on April 27 together with Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem, had in recent months attempted to sow discord in the country. The killings reinforce the chilling …

Attacks show terrorism's growing reach
5 years, 8 months ago

Attacks show terrorism's growing reach

China Daily  

Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019. The group National Thowheed Jamath, banned by the Sri Lanka government on April 27 together with Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem, had in recent months attempted to sow discord in the country. The killings reinforce the chilling …

India had warned Sri Lanka about Easter bombings in advance on the basis of raids on ISIS modules in India
5 years, 8 months ago

India had warned Sri Lanka about Easter bombings in advance on the basis of raids on ISIS modules in India

Op India  

Several reports have come into the forefront which confirms that the Indian authorities had passed clear intel to Sri Lanka regarding the dastardly coordinated blasts at churches and hotels on the Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, leaving 253 people dead and several hundred injured. On the basis of these videos, the Indian Authorities identified Hashim as the leader of National …

Sri Lanka attacks: Father, two brothers of suicide bombings' mastermind killed in Kalmunai raids, say relative, police sources
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka attacks: Father, two brothers of suicide bombings' mastermind killed in Kalmunai raids, say relative, police sources

Firstpost  

The father and two brothers of the suspected mastermind of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings were killed when security forces stormed their safe house two days ago, police sources and a relative of the suicide bombers told Reuters on Sunday. Colombo: The father and two brothers of the suspected mastermind of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings were killed when security …

Father, two brothers of Sri Lanka suicide bombings mastermind killed
5 years, 8 months ago

Father, two brothers of Sri Lanka suicide bombings mastermind killed

India Today  

The father and two brothers of the suspected mastermind of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings were killed when security forces stormed their safe house two days ago, police sources and a relative of the suicide bombers told Reuters on Sunday. Zainee Hashim, Rilwan Hashim and their father Mohamed Hashim, who were seen in a video circulating on social media calling …

Sri Lanka attacks: Thankful for information provided by India, 'unfortunate' that we could not act on it, Ranil Wickremesinghe tells DD News
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka attacks: Thankful for information provided by India, 'unfortunate' that we could not act on it, Ranil Wickremesinghe tells DD News

Firstpost  

Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in an interview to Doordarshan News said his country was thankful for the information provided by India regarding the terror strikes and it was “unfortunate” that they could not act on it. “We knew they went to Syria…But in our country, to go abroad and return or to take part in a foreign armed …

Sri Lanka Easter blasts: ‘Anti-Muslim riots a possible trigger’
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter blasts: ‘Anti-Muslim riots a possible trigger’

The Hindu  

The spate of anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka in recent years could have been a reason for more youth to turn radical and mobilise, according to a top Sri Lankan military intelligence source. Old fears Even as he strongly condemned the “cowardly and barbaric” Easter attacks, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Raulff Hakeem urged citizens to be mindful of “agents …

Sri Lanka Easter blasts: Suspected mastermind Zahran Hashim spent time in south India, says top military source
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka Easter blasts: Suspected mastermind Zahran Hashim spent time in south India, says top military source

The Hindu  

Zahran Hashim, believed to have masterminded the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka, spent “substantial” time in “south India,” a top Sri Lankan military source said on Friday. The first hints of Hashim’s doctrinal videos, to likely radicalise youth, emerged when Indian authorities interrogated seven members of a group whose leader, officials found, was a follower of Hashim. ‘Hashim, a Shangri-La …

Sri Lanka PM apologises for failing to prevent Easter bombings
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka PM apologises for failing to prevent Easter bombings

India TV News  

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday apologised to public for failing to prevent the Easter bombings that left 253 people dead and several hundreds injured. A series of eight coordinated blasts ripped through three churches and three high-end hotels frequented by tourists in the country's deadliest violence since the devastating civil war ended in 2009. The Islamic State …

Sri Lankan police hunt 140 after Easter bombings
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lankan police hunt 140 after Easter bombings

The Hindu  

Sri Lankan police are trying to track down 140 people believed to be linked to the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed 253, as shooting erupted in the east during a raid. Muslims in Sri Lanka were urged to pray at home after the State Intelligence Services warned of possible car bomb attacks, …

Discrepancies in Sri Lanka attack muddle investigation
5 years, 8 months ago

Discrepancies in Sri Lanka attack muddle investigation

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Hour by hour the death toll from Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombing attacks climbed. “If you can’t count the dead, how can you take care of the living, especially those who pose a threat?” Sri Lanka’s top officials have acknowledged that intelligence units were aware of threats by the militant group blamed for the attack — …

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