Sri Lankan authorities have ordered a state of emergency to be introduced from midnight Easter Monday following the deadly Easter attacks on Churches and luxury hotels, the President’s office said.
Channels Television reported the special measures are being brought in “to allow the police and the three forces to ensure public security,” a statement from the government said, referring to the army, navy and air force.
The country’s government had on Monday ordered a new night-time curfew as tensions remained high after a series of suicide bomb attacks that left at least 290 dead.
The government information department said the curfew would run from 8:00pm (1430 GMT) on Monday until 4:00am on Tuesday.
An indefinite curfew ordered Sunday after the attacks were lifted early Monday but a two-day holiday was decreed in a bid to reduce public traffic.
Security personnel had inspected the interior of St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo on Monday after the church was hit in series of bomb blasts targeting churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday.
