- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Sri Lanka Bans 3 Islamist Groups Suspected of Being Involved in Easter Bombings

© REUTERS / Dinuka LiyanawatteSri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019.
Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has officially outlawed three Islamist groups suspected of being behind the April bombings that killed over 250 people across the country, a statement published on the president's website said Tuesday.

"By the powers vested in me as the President of Sri Lanka… I have ordered for the National Thowheeth Jama'ath, Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem and Wilayah As Sailani groups to be banned in the country", the statement said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also urged citizens to keep calm amid the crackdown on the jihadists.

In the meantime, authorities introduced a 12-hour curfew in its North Western Province, just after the previous one ended. According to the news portal Ada Derana, the new curfew started at 6:00 PM (12:30 GMT), and will end on Wednesday at 6:00 AM.

READ MORE: Nationwide Curfew Imposed in Sri Lanka After Mosque Attacks

Sri Lanka has been on high alert since a string of deadly bombings devastated the nation on Easter Sunday.

More than 250 people were killed and hundreds injured in the coordinated attacks, and dozens have been detained since a massive anti-terrorist operation and investigation was launched in the wake of the tragedy.

Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019 - Sputnik International
Asia
Sri Lanka Blocks Social Media After Violence in Country - Report
Daesh* terrorist group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

According to the Sri Lankan government, there are about 130-140 Daesh members operating in the island nation. However, the police claim that all suspected plotters and perpetrators of the Easter bombings have been either detained or killed.

* Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/IS/Islamic State) is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала