Motorists urged to paste contact, name on windscreens: Police

Motorists are advised to display their names and contact telephone number on the windscreen to identify the vehicles clearly, the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

CMC pledges Rs.25mn to rebuild Kochchikade Church

Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake yesterday said the Municipal Council would pledge Rs.25 million to bring the St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade to its former glory.

UN Security Council condemns terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka

The UN Security Council has condemned the series of heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks that took place across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, which resulted in nearly 300 killed and hundreds more wounded.

Guidelines by Army to be issued to all hotels

A security briefing to all the Colombo city hotels and some suburban hoteliers had been held yesterday, the Chairman of both Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Kishu Gomes said.

Death toll rises to 321

The death toll from the Easter Sunday terror attacks has increased to 321 by this morning with 500 people have been injured, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said.

Amal Perera deported from Dubai

Six more individuals including Singer Amal Perera who were arrested along with notorious drug kingpin Makandure Madush in Dubai were deported this morning, police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Batticaloa terror attack: Children among the dead

Majority of those who were killed and injured following the bomb attack which took place at Zion Church in Batticaloa on Sunday, had been identified as children, Batticaloa hospital sources said. Sources said 29 deaths had been reported so far while about 140 injured.

A respectable history which assured safety of all Lankans marred: Gota

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said he was shocked to witness a respectable history which ensured the safety of all Sri Lankans while strengthening the intelligence service of Sri Lanka to the level of world’s leading intelligence services, being marred.

Attacks of this magnitude were not expected: Defence Secy.

Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando said yesterday the Defence Ministry never expected an attack of this magnitude except for some isolated incidents in certain places.

Int’l authorities warned of Easter Sunday attacks: Govt.

The government today admitted that foreign intelligence authorities warned of imminent terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday.

Stand committed to confront terrorism together: Pompeo

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, today said the US grieves with the people of Sri Lanka and that they stand committed to confront terrorism together.

Suicide bomber previously arrested for vandalism: Kabir

One of the suicide bombers who blew himself up in an attack last Sunday had been a suspect who was arrested a few months ago in connection with an incident in Mawanella in which Buddha statues were damaged, Highways Minister Kabir Hashim said at a press conference held today.

Private Catholic schools to be closed till April 29

All private Catholic schools in the Western Province will be closed until April 29 considering the prevailing situation in country following the series of bomb attacks yesterday, National Director of Catholic Schools Rev. Fr. Ivan Perera told Daily Mirror today.

INTERPOL deploys team to SL to support investigations

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.

Edinburgh University reverend launches crowdfunder to help SL victims

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, Edinburghlive reported.

Will not allow similar situation to take place again : Prez assures to Cardinal

President Maithripala Sirisena said the government would not allow such a devastating situation to take place in future and it is taking every step to avert such a situation.

Toll-free E’way exits from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm

According to instruction by the Road Development Authority (RDA), the Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management Division decided not to levy charges for vehicles at exit points from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm. It is applicable to all expressway users.

Explosive device disposed in Kochchikade

An improvised explosive device was detected inside a van near the St. Anthony’s Church, Jampettah Road, Kochchikade, and was disposed in controlled explosion at the site by the Bomb Disposal Unit a short while ago, reporters said.

ISIS fanatics celebrate SL attacks

Islamic State supporters are celebrating the Sri Lanka suicide bombings which killed 290 people on Easter Sunday and left around another 500 injured, Daily Mail Online reported.

87 detonators found from Bastian Mawatha Bus Station

Eighty-seven detonators had been found yesterday at the Bastian Mawatha Bus Station and in a garbage dump in the area this afternoon by the Police officers in Colombo Fort, Police said.

Shangri-La suicide bomber identified

The police today informed Colombo Chef Magistrate’s Court that the suicide bomber of the Shangri-La hotel had been identified as Insan Seelavan and owned a factory in Avissawella- Wellampitiya road.

Five Lankans nabbed by Navy with 275 kg of heroin

Based on information received from the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), the Sri Lanka Navy had raided a fishing trawler which was carrying 275 kg of heroin off North Eastern coast, the Navy said.

Terrorism prevention sections to be gazetted under emergency regulations

The government has decided to gazette the sections dealing with prevention of terrorism under emergency regulations from midnight today.

Tomorrow declared a national day of mourning

The government has declared tomorrow as a national day of mourning, President’s Media Division (PMD) said. In a statement, it said the decision was taken at the national security council which convened under the chair of President Maithripala Sirisena this morning.

Police denies rumours of poisoned water

Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara today denied the reports that poison was mixed into water in several areas outskirts of Colombo.

Police curfew from 8.00 pm to 4.00 am

The police curfew will be imposed across the island from 8.00 pm tonight to 4.00 am tomorrow, the government announced today.

UNP cancels May Day rally

The May Day rally of the United National Party (UNP), which was scheduled to be held at the Municipal Council ground in Colombo, has been cancelled, UNP General Secretary Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

Three-member committee appointed to probe terror attack

A three-member committee has been appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to investigate the incidents of bomb explosions in several places yesterday.

Govt analyst confirms suicide bombers carried out all attacks

The Government Analyst today confirmed that yesterday’s attacks on three churches and three hotels were carried out by suicide bombers.

Ministry requests JMOs to speed up post-mortems

The Justice Ministry today requested the Judicial Medical Officers (JMO) to visit the hospitals and speed up the post mortem investigations of the people who were killed in suicide bomb attacks yesterday.