Sri Lanka reduces death toll to 253

Sri Lanka on Thursday revised down the toll in Easter Sunday bloodbath to "about 253" even as Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigned accepting responsibility for the attack and security forces continued a search for accomplices of the suicide bombers.

Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday revised the death toll in the Easter Sunday blasts to 253.

Authorities slashed the death toll from 359 to 253, which is 100 less than the originally estimated figure.

According to a media house, the reduction of death toll reportedly took place after it was observed that body parts of some of the deceased were accounted twice.

The government also banned the use of all drones and unmanned aircraft within the Sri Lankan airspace with effect from Thursday and also kept its new visa-on-arrival programme, which was to be implemented from May 1, on hold due to the security situation in the island nation

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack that also left 500 injured but Colombo has blamed a local Muslim group, the National Thowheed Jamath (NJT).

Eight explosions rattled various suburbs in the Sri Lankan city of Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikede and Batticaloa as the Christian community celebrated Easter Sunday on April 21.

Sri Lanka has been in a state of emergency in the aftermath of the bombings.