Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena blamed the UN inquiry into war crimes during the armed conflict for the suicide bomb attacks by Islamist extremists on Easter Sunday. 

Valikaamam East Divisional Secretariat passed a motion this week condemning the Easter Sunday blasts, which killed over 250 people. 

Sri Lanka’s former defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was at the helm when state forces killed tens of thousands of Tamils, announced this week that he would run for presidency in upcoming elections.

A vigil led by British Tamils was held at St Paul’s Cathedral Churchyard, London on Friday, in tribute to the victims who lost their lives in a series of coordinated attacks on Easter Sunday.

The leader of the right ring Buddhist monk party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Champika Ranawaka on Friday put forward a 10 point proposal of hardline changes purported to defeat Islamic radicalization following the Easter Sunday blasts. 

The US State Department has raised its Sri Lanka travel advisory to Level 3, urging citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism.

The advisory stated:

“On April 26, 2019, the Department of State ordered the departure of all school-age family members of U.S. government employees in Kindergarten through 12^th grade.  The Department also authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members.

Earlier this month Hindu and Christian religious leaders had united to call for all Tamils to come together to commemorate ten years since the Mullivaikkal genocide.

At a press meet on April 10, community leaders involved in organising Mullivaikkal remembrance activities, said:

^{Photograph: The aftermath of a gunbattle that left several people dead in Amparai last night.}

At least 15 people, including 6 children, are confirmed to be amongst those killed as the Sri Lankan military engaged in a firefight with suspects linked to the Easter Sunday attacks in Amparai yesterday.

The Sri Lankan army confirmed the casualties, as well as a raid on a nearby building, which found stocks of explosives, ball bearings, a drone and a flag bearing the Islamic State logo.