Sri Lanka Renews Easter Bombing State Of Emergency For Another Month - Reports

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has prolonged the nationwide state of emergency, imposed immediately following a series of deadly attacks on Easter Sunday, for another month, local media reported on Wednesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has prolonged the nationwide state of emergency, imposed immediately following a series of deadly attacks on Easter Sunday, for another month, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the Ada Derana news portal, the president signed a relevant document earlier in the day based on the current security situation in the country.

A state of emergency went into effect on April 22 after a series of deadly explosions hit the island nation on Easter Sunday, killing at least 262 people.

The blasts occurred at several hotels and Catholic churches in Colombo and other cities. Islamic State (IS, terrorist group banned in Russia) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A total of 73 people, including nine women, have been arrested in connection with the bombings. According to Acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickremaratne, all those directly linked to the attacks have been neutralized.