Colombo: The death toll has risen to 321 while 500 remain injured after multiple bomb blasts that rocked Sri Lanka during Easter celebrations on Sunday, said police.
Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said that 40 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks and search operations are on to nab the other suspects. All the suspects are Sri Lankan nationals and have been sent to custody.
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Though the Sri Lankan government has suspected the local fundamentalist group National Towheeth Jamaath for carrying out the attacks but at the same time they say that it is a small outfit and can't carry out the blasts alone and some international groups may be involved in the attacks.
"The intelligence agencies have reported that there were international organisations behind these acts of local terrorists. Hence, it has been decided to seek international assistance for investigations," a government statement said.
Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency. All schools across the country have been shut till Wednesday.
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A total of eight blasts rocked Sri Lanka, out of which three blasts targeted three churches, St Anthony's church in Kochchikande, St Sebastian church in Negombo and Zion church in Batticaloa.
The other three blasts targeted three five star hotels - Shangri-La, Kingsburry and Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.
The seventh blast was reported near a hotel opposite the zoo in Dehiwela region of Colombo. The eighth explosion was reported at a housing scheme in Dematagoda, Colombo.
The deceased include 31 foreigners out of which ten Indians have been identified. There are still many bodies that remain unidentified. Even after two days the country seems to be in a state of stupor.
