<p>The UK has warned against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, in a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) update&nbsp;released today.</p> <p>Eight Britons are known to be among those killed during the the bomb blasts targetting churches and hotels on Easter Sunday.</p>

<p>Sri Lanka is set to lose at least US $1.5 billion in tourism revenue following the devastating Easter Sunday attacks, warned The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).</p> <p>“This is the first ever time the terrorists have targeted and attacked tourists, particularly hotels. From the immediate reactions, we are estimating that there will be a massive loss of $1.5 billion in tourism earnings this year,"&nbsp; the president of the association Santh Ukwatte told the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Tourist-hotels-fear----1-5-b-revenue-loss-f…">Daily FT</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Reports have emerged of Muslims businesses and homes being attacked in Sri Lanka as well as Muslims forced to flee their homes, in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings that have killed more than 350 people so far.

At least two Muslim shops have been burnt down, mosques have been pelted with stones and there have been several incidents of attacks on homes and individuals, including Pakistani refugees. A Sri Lankan parliamentarian with the prime minister’s United National Party has also called for a ban on burqas, a type of traditional Muslim attire. 

The city of Brampton, passed a motion on Wednesday recognising that the atrocities perpetrated by Sri Lanka against the Tamil nation constituted genocide, and recognising May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.

The motion entitled ‘proclamation declaring Tamil genocide’ and moved by Mayor Patrick Brown, was passed unanimously by the council of the city, which is home to a significant Tamil population.

The full motion stated:

Police in Jaffna prohibited residents from putting up black flags during Tuesday’s island-wide day of mourning for the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, claiming the black flags seemed like a protest against the Sri Lankan government.

Nelliyadi police forced locals to take down black flags and tried to encourage them to put up white flags in memory of the victim instead.

Anger has been mounting as the government sought to deflect blame about failures in intelligence leading to the attacks.

Earlier this week Mannar police had also tried to take down black flags put in public places but were faced with resistance by residents and local traders.

<p>Emergency Regulations were passed without a vote, as reports of further terror threats were discussed in Sri Lanka's parliament, &nbsp;on Wednesday.</p> <p>The emergency regulations, labelled as draconian and problematic by many, are said to invest police and security forces with the power to take effective measures to safeguard the island, as well as giving the President sweeping executive powers.</p> <p>The regulations are set to be in place for 30 days, reports Colombo Page.</p>

<p>Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has requested that the police chief and defence secretary step down following the Easter Sunday bombings which killed 359 people.</p> <p>This was reported by two sources close to the president who wish to maintain their anonymity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Read more <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-police/sri-lankan-p…">here</a>.</p>

<p>US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, has said that the US had no prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday bombings which claimed over 350 lives and wounded an approximate 500.</p> <p>This statement follows from rumours that foreign officials had had prior warning.</p> <p>Speaking to foreign reporters she said, “clearly there was some failure in the system” as the Sri Lankan government had intelligence on the attack prior to the actual attack.</p> <p>Responding to questions she said; “We did not know because believe me, if we had, we would have tried to do something about”.&nbsp;</p>

A Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian said there are “serious questions” regarding the Governor of the Eastern Province and his links to the National Thowheed Jamaath, a lesser known jihadist group that has been blamed by Sri Lankan authorities for the Easter Sunday bombings that have killed over 300 people.

Addressing parliament this morning, TNA MP M A Sumanthiran also said Sri Lanka’s president “has now become the first person who should take responsibility for attacks” after it was revealed Sri Lankan authorities had prior warning of the attacks.

A man was arrested in Mullaitivu in connection with the bomb blasts that killed over 300 people in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

The 35-year-old Muslim man from Maradankadawala, Kekirawa was taken for questioning by Puthukudiyiruppu police after reportedly behaving suspiciously in the town, and was placed under arrest shortly afterwards.