State of emergency to be declared and 'anti-terrorism' clauses effective in Sri Lanka

<p>The Sri Lankan government will declare a state of emergency from midnight on Monday, in the wake of a series of bombings that killed at least 290 people on Easter Sunday.</p> <p>In an official announcement, Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division stated that &nbsp;Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena&nbsp;“anti-terrorism clauses” will be effective from midnight.</p> <p>“This step has been taken to empower police to take effective measures to safeguard security of the people and the country,” it added.</p> <p>See the announcement <a href="http://www.pmdnews.lk/president-chairs-emergency-meeting-of-national-se…">here</a>.</p> <p>At least 290 people have been confirmed to have been killed in the bombings yesterday. Emergency rule was last in place on the island in 2011, however an &nbsp;island-wide curfew&nbsp;is currently in place.</p>