Retired General Shantha Kottegoda was appointed as the Secretary of Defence a short while ago, President’s Media Division said.

Amending the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was better than bringing in a new Counter-Terrorism Act (CTA), Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today.

Following the appointment of C.D. Wickremeratne as the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Pujith Jayasundara has been sent on compulsory leave, sources said.

Senior DIG C.D. Wickremerathne had been appointed as Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) by President Maithripala Sirisena today, President’s Media Unit said.

An accomplice of National Thowheed Jamath’s leader Zahran Hashim was arrested at Rambewa in Medawachchiya on Sunday, police said.

Thirteen foreign nationals have been arrested in the Mount Lavinia, Welikada, Dehiwala and Nawagamuwa areas over visa violations yesterday, police said.

The Government Intelligence Service has received information on an attack targeting the Buddhist temples by the National Thawheeth Jamaath (NTJ), using female bombers.

A recent survey by the security forces intelligence wings have revealed that there are 45 Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) mosques throughout the country with a membership of about 139.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Easter Sunday attacks would have been prevented if the new Counter Terrorism Bill which provides for territorial jurisdiction was passed in Parliament without delay.

A suspected handler of the suicide bombers was arrested in Enderamulla, Wattala last night, informed sources said.

Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday met the former defence chiefs led by former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to discuss the prevailing security situation in the country.

SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayake today said that it is pathetic to see some people taking advantage of the problematic situation prevailing in the country for mere personal political mileage.

Covering the face in order to avoid the identification of a person will be banned with effect from tomorrow (29), to ensure the public safety, the President’s Office said.

Former President and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today told reporters that many Sri Lankan politicians put all their energy into winning elections, while forgetting national security.

The woman and the child who were injured in the Saindamarudu blasts at Kalmunai on Friday night had been identified as the wife and the daughter of Mohamed Zahran, the mastermind of Easter Sunday terror attacks, police said.

Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Ifran Ahmed, the elder brother of two suicide bombers, who blew themselves up at two hotels had been arrested by the STF during a raid in Dematagoda this morning, the Police said.

The CID recovered three gemstones worth more than Rs. 30 million from the house at Mahawila Scheme in Dematagoda where several explosions occurred on Sunday, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Individuals or groups spreading false and sensitive information that could stir up inter-communal violence would be punished severely under the prevailing Emergency Regulations, Military Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said.

A 57-year old man was arrested with six homemade bombs from a mosque that comes under the purview of the National Thowheed Jamaath at Wahunkowa in Daulagala last night.

The indefinite police curfew which was imposed in Kalmunai, Sammanthurai and Chawalakade was lifted at10 am today, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Two suspects, wanted over Easter Sunday attacks, were arrested in Nawalapitiya this morning, police said.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement.

The US Department of State on Friday ordered the departure of all school-age family members of US government employees in Kindergarten through 12th grade, from Sri Lanka.

Three suspects allegedly radical Islamist extremists and two weapons of the two Policemen killed at a checkpoint in Vavunathiwu on November 29, 2018 were recovered by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department today.

President Maithripala Sirisena, as per the powers vested in him under the emergency regulations no 1 of 2019, has taken steps to ban National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) in Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division (

The driver of the main suspect in the Sunday’s bomb attacks Mohamed Sahran, was arrested in Kaththankudy and handed over to the CID, police said.

Negombo Deputy Mayor Mohomad Anzar was taken into police custody with a sword, a knife and 38 mobile phone batteries today, police said.

Police curfew will be re-imposed from 10.00 pm today to 4.00 am tomorrow, police said.

The government is in the process of assessing the damage caused to the overall economy, the industry, financial and banking sector and to tourism from the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday called for the banning of Madarasa Islamic Schools in Sri Lanka saying the children are taught extremism in those institutions.