WORLD
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickremaratne said that all those directly linked to the attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels have been arrested or were killed.
All the Islamic extremists involved in the Easter suicide bombings are either killed or arrested, Sri Lankan police and military chiefs have claimed, assuring that the country is now safe and can get back to normalcy.
The tri-forces commanders and the police chief, addressing a press conference on Monday night, said the security of the country following the April 21 bombings that left 257 people dead has been ensured with adequate measures and steps have been taken to implement a special security plan.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickremaratne said that all those directly linked to the attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels have been arrested or were killed.
He also said that all the explosives believed to be linked to local Islamist outfit National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), blamed for the attacks, have been found.
"All explosives possessed by the terrorist group has been seized. Almost everyone identified with the group have been arrested. Two of their bomb experts have died in the clashes. The police can happily announce that everyone with direct links have been either arrested or killed by now," Wickremaratne said.
Wickramaratne did not say how many people have been arrested over the bombings, but police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera on Monday said that 73 people, including nine women, were arrested and being questioned by the CID and the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID).
The police spokesman also said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) identified more than Rs 140 million cash and other assets worth over Rs 7 billion belonging to the NTJ.
The Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks, the island nation's worst, but the government blamed ISIS linked local Islamist extremist group NTJ.
Wickramaratne, who was named acting police chief last week after President Maithripala Sirisena suspended his predecessor over his failure to act on intellegence warnings about the attacks, said the country can now get back to normalcy with the lifting of curfews imposed after the attacks.
Wickramaratne urged the public not to be misled by unverified reports.
The government reopened schools on Monday, but attendance dropped to below 10 per cent in many places with parents still fearing attacks.
Wickremeratne said a joint security operation with schools authorities are underway. He pointed to unverified security fears spread through social media as the cause for unfounded security concerns.
Army chief Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake said the military has taken steps to ensure national security under the emergency regulations.
He said that over the past two weeks normalcy was returning to the country and the public must not be misled by false claims.
All security measures to ensure safety in the country has been taken. The security forces were empowered by the emergency regulations since the attacks," Lt Gen Senanayake said.
The Army chief urged the public to return to their day to day activities.
The tourism industry leaders have urged the government to make strong measures to enable the industry to revive following the Easter Sunday attacks on three leading hotels.
The suicide bombers attacked breakfast rooms of the Shangri La, The Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury Hotels.
The attacks in which 44 foreigners including 11 Indians were killed prompted adverse travel advisories.
At the moment most bookings are cancelled, with less than 10 per cent of occupancy we are in trouble," Hoteliers Association president Sanath Ukawatta said.
The government has already decided on a package of concessions to the tourism industry which contributes 5 per cent of the island's GDP.
The Tourism Authority said the total number of tourist arrivals during April was 166,975. This is an year on year decline of 7.5 per cent as the arrivals were 180,429 in April 2018.
Maharashtra polls: Congress suspends seven more rebel candidates
Meet man who quit high-paying job in US, then built Rs 150 crore company in India, his business is…
Viral video: Little girl wins heart with adorable dance to 'aayi nai' song, watch
Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding cake slice sold in auction at this SHOCKING price
Viral video: Woman's sizzling dance to 'tere liye' leaves internet drooling, watch
Meet man who leads Rs 185985 crore company as CEO, son of Indian billionaire, he is...
'We don't encourage...': Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal launches new feature 'Food Rescue' to reduce...
Before Pakistani TikTok star Minahil Malik, actress Rida Isfahani's MMS video leaked online by...
Watch: Virat Kohli gets annoyed at Mumbai airport, asks paps to stay away from…
Watch: David Miller's spectacular one-handed catch shocks Tilak Varma in IND vs SA 2nd T20I
Do you see 11:11? What's the secret behind this number?
'Najar Na Lage': Sidhu Moosewala’s parents perform annaprashan ceremony for chota Sidhu, watch
Baba Siddique murder case: Main shooter, 4 others arrested in UP
Justice Sanjiv Khanna to be sworn in as 51st Chief Justice of India tomorrow
Delhi Pollution: Air quality remains in 'very poor' zone, AQI reaches over 330
'Fictosexual': Japanese man celebrates six years of marriage with his virtual wife
J-K: Army officer martyred, 3 soldiers injured in gunfight with terrorists in Kishtwar
This is world's richest politician, much wealthier than Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, he is...
Want a bride-like glow? Try Deepika Padukone’s secret juice for perfect glow
Meet Robin Passi, billionaire heir and son of Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi
Tulsi Vivah 2024 Time: Date, shubh muhurat, rituals and significance
MrBeast, Logan Paul ride rickshaw in Mumbai, distribute chocolates to paparazzi; WATCH viral video
Azim Premji buys stakes worth Rs 4757 crore in Rs 297000 crore company
'This is just exploitation...': Video of woman sleeping with lion cubs goes viral, watch
Rihanna retiring from music? Singer says 'God had other plans', leaves fans worried
India's first high-speed railway test track worth Rs 820 crore getting constructed in...
Mukesh Ambani loses Rs 74563 crore in 5 days, Reliance emerges as biggest...
Congress veteran leader, 5 times MLA Mateen Ahmed joins AAP ahead of 2025 Delhi Assembly polls
AUS vs PAK: Pakistan script history in Perth, win ODI series on Australian soil after 22 years
'Ask Rahul Gandhi to praise Savarkar, Balasaheb...': Amit Shah's fierce attack on Uddhav Thackeray
Hidden danger in your spice rack: Turmeric's lead contamination crisis
Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2024: When is Devutthana Prabodhini Ekadashi vrat? Know date and significance
J-K: Fresh encounter breaks out in Kishtwar between security forces, terrorists
No water supply for 16 hours on November 11 in THIS part of Delhi, check details
Viral video: Man finds live worm in pizza ordered online, furious netizens demand action, WATCH
How many meals in a day is healthy for Indians?
New health directive in Tamil Nadu, Government declares THIS as notifiable disease
How Indian airports are becoming hubs for drug-trafficking?
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah releases BJP manifesto
J-K: Exchange of fire between terrorists, security forces in forest area of Srinagar
'These kids will regret': Kartik Aaryan fans IGNORE Sonu Nigam, viral video leaves netizens angry
Liam Payne's death 'NOT' suicide: Autopsy reveals One Direction singer died due to...
Delhi Ganesh, Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 co-star, passes away
Why paper cuts hurt so much: Surprising science explained
Donald Trump marks second term victory with formation of inaugural committee for 2025
Citadel Honey Bunny review: Varun Dhawan, Samantha try powering this dull series
Meet Malaysia's richest Indian, owns private satellites, his net worth is Rs...
Delhi-NCR update: AQI improves slightly but remains in 'very poor' category
Meet woman who was first DSP, cracked UPSC exam to become collector, was jailed due to...
SA vs IND, 2nd T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report