<p>Human Rights Watch has called upon to follow “due process” ensuring that arrests are made according to international standards and that restrictions on the freedom of speech are done “for a legitimate reason” and are “proportionate”.</p> <p>This follows the Easter Sunday bombings in which close to 300 were killed and approximate 500 injured.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Sri Lankan state has responded by announcing a state of emergency, which would come into force on April 23 allowing security officials to make arrests without charge, and blocking several social media platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tamil Civil Society Forum has condemned, 'with a heavy heart,’ the Easter Sunday bombings.</p> <p>In a statement released on Tuesday, the forum said ,</p> <p>“We fear that these attacks which occur 10 years after the end of the civil war, have the potential of further complicating and sharpening the deep divisions in this country”</p> <p>Noting concern at the impact the bombings could have on already strained ethnic harmony, the statement added,</p>

<p>The Islamic State news agency AMAQ claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday suicide attacks that claimed the lives of over 250 people.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a statement released by the group’s AMAQ news agency, the Islamic state identified the suicide bombers by their noms de guerre, specifying which of them had gone to three of the attacked churches, reports the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/world/asia/sri-lanka-bombing.html">New York Times.</a></p>

<p>Sri Lanka’s leader of the opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed the current government’s handling of national security, accusing it of weakening security measures after he lost power in 2015.</p> <p>Blaming the current government for allowing ‘terrorism to raise its head again,’ Rajapaksa went on to criticise attempts to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), a legislation that has been criticised by the UN and several rights group.</p> <p>Speaking in parliament on Tuesday he said,<br> “If the government had repealed the PTA as requested by the intentional community, the situation may have been worse.”</p>

Staff and students at the University of Jaffna held a vigil in tribute to the victims of the bomb blasts in Batticaloa and Colombo.

Attended by lecturers, students and campus staff, the vigil took place at the campus on Monday morning.

On the day of the attacks, Jaffna University students had organised an emergency blood donation drive as reports of shortages of blood emerged, especially in Batticaloa.

Business owners in Mannar town shut their stores and raised black flags in an act of mourning for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombs which killed nearly 300 people in Colombo and Batticaloa.

Shops in Mannar bazaar shut on Monday morning, while the area's association leaders put up black flags and tribute posters in public areas of the town.

STF troops checking luggage at Jaffna bus stand

A man was arrested in Jaffna town while curfew was imposed on Sunday evening, and released after inquiry on Monday.

Although locals speculated that the man had been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, police said he had been arrested as he had been at Jaffna central bus station with a suitcase, after curfew had been imposed, which had aroused suspicion.

<p>US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has blamed the “radical Islamic terror” for the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka.</p> <p>The attacks have claimed the lives of close to 300 people and Pompeo has claimed that several Americans were amongst the casualties. At least 35 foreigners were among the fatalities.</p> <p>Speaking at a news conference Pompeo said:</p> <blockquote><p> “What was supposed to be a joyful Easter Sunday was marred by a horrific wave of Islamic radical terror and bloodshed,”</p> <p>“We urge that any evildoers be brought to justice expeditiously and America is prepared to support that,”&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the second day in a row, Pope Francis condemned the attacks in Sri Lanka describing them as “terrorist acts, inhuman acts, never justifiable”.</p> <p>The death toll from the attacks is close to 300 with at least 35 foreigners among the fatalities. Sri Lankan police said 24 people had been arrested in connection with the blasts.</p> <p>A state of emergency is to be declared with 'anti-terrorism clauses' effective from midnight Monday.</p> <p>Speaking to tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square he described a close link to the Catholics in Sri Lanka and that he was praying for them.</p> <p>In his statement he said:</p>

US President Donald Trump called Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today, as reports arrive that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting with investigations.

Trump “pledged United States support to Sri Lanka in bringing the perpetrators to justice, and the leaders re-affirmed their commitment to the fight against global terrorism,” according to a White House statement.

The statement added that “the near simultaneous attacks on Sri Lankan churches and hotels constitute one of the deadliest terrorist events since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States”.