Sri Lanka president chairs meeting on bombings

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena while chairing the All Party Conference in Colombo said that a restructure of the country's defence units had begun. Sirisena chaired the All Party Conference in Colombo to discuss the security response following Easter Sunday's attacks which killed at least 253 people.

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena told a cross-party meeting on Thursday that a restructure of the country's defence units had begun.

Sirisena chaired the All Party Conference in Colombo to discuss the security response following Easter Sunday's attacks which killed at least 253 people.

During the meeting, Sirisena urged his political rivals, including opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, to work together in improving the country's security.

"By strengthening defence forces to put civilian lives back to normal, to create an environment for the people to live in peace," Sirisena said.

At least 58 people have been arrested in connection with the wave of blasts at churches and luxury hotels last Sunday, according to police.

Authorities are hunting for at least five more suspects and continue to brace for the possibility of more attacks in the coming days.