Sri Lanka began a day of national mourning with three minutes of silence as the death toll of the Easter Sunday bombings rises to 310. Nearly 500 people had also been wounded in the attacks on sites across the country.
In an indication of the tensions, three more explosions rocked parts of the country on Monday but apparently no injuries. Police have arrested 40 suspects, including the driver of a van allegedly used by suicide bombers and the owner of a house where some of them lived, officials said.
Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he feared the massacre could unleash instability and he vowed to “vest all necessary powers with the defence forces” to act against those responsible.
The government blocked most social media to curtail false information. Even after an overnight, nationwide curfew was lifted, the streets of central Colombo remained mostly deserted and shops closed as armed soldiers stood guard.
The Sri Lankan tourism minister, John Amaratunga, said that at least 39 foreigners were among the dead. Those countries that have confirmed their citizens were killed include Australia, Britain, China, Japan, Portugal, and the United States.
International intelligence agencies had warned that the little-known group, National Thowfeek Jamaath, was planning attacks, but word apparently did not reach the prime minister’s office until after the massacre.
Health minister Rajitha Senaratne said the warnings started on April 4, the defence ministry wrote to the police chief with information that included the group’s name and police wrote on April 11 to the heads of security of the judiciary and diplomatic security division.
A Syrian national is being questioned by Sri Lankan police over Sunday’s attacks, citing military and government sources. No group has claimed responsibility for the Easter bombings.
Sri Lankan authorities planned to brief foreign diplomats and receive assistance from the FBI and other foreign intelligence-gathering agencies after officials disclosed on Monday that warnings had been received weeks ago of the possibility of an attack by the radical Muslim group blamed for the bloodshed.
>Juthy Saha
Death Toll Rises to 310 in Sri Lanka Bomb Attacks
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