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Sri Lanka blasts highlights: 290 killed in attacks, 8 Indians among dead

Sri Lanka confirmed that 11 foreigners who died in the attacks had been identified -- including citizens of India, Portugal, Turkey, the UK and US

A view of St Sebastian’s Church damaged in a blast in Negombo, north of Colombo, on Sunday | Photo: Reuters
A view of St Sebastian’s Church damaged in a blast in Negombo, north of Colombo, on Sunday | Photo: Reuters

1 min read Last Updated : Apr 23 2019 | 12:03 AM IST

Sri Lanka said on Monday it was invoking emergency powers in the aftermath of devastating bomb attacks on hotels and churches, blamed on militants with foreign links, which killed 290 people and wounded nearly 500.

The emergency law, which gives police and the military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders, would go into effect at midnight local time, the president's office said.

Colombo, the seaside capital of the Indian Ocean island, was jittery the day after the horrifying Easter Sunday attacks.

Police said 87 bomb detonators were found at the city's main bus station, while an explosive went off near a church when bomb squad officials were trying to defuse it. Scores were killed in the church on Sunday.A night curfew went into effect at 8 pm.

Key Events

8:32 PM

5 JD(S) workers from Karnataka dead in Colombo blasts

Five activists of Janata Dal-Secular JD(S) died in Colombo's serial bomb blasts on Sunday. 

"Of the seven party workers, we have received information from the Indian High Commission in Colombo that 5 of them died. We are waiting for information on two others," Karnataka Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar said.

8:23 PM

Number of Indians killed in Sri Lanka bomb explosion mounts to 8

At least eight Indians are among the dead after a string of devastating suicide blasts struck churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 290 people on Easter Sunday. 

The Indian High Commission in Colombo tweeted: 

8:19 PM

Sri Lanka imposes curfew again

The Sri Lankan government announced a new curfew from 8 pm on Monday to 4 am on Tuesday. 
 
The announcement by Sri Kankan government came as a three-member committee was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to investigate the explosions at three luxury hotels and three churches besides two other locations

First Published: Apr 22 2019 | 9:14 AM IST