Sri Lanka's army commander, Mahesh Senanayake told the BBC "too much of freedom" had led to the Easter Sunday suicide bombings, which killed over 250 people. 

The Easter Sunday attack at the Zion Church in Batticaloa claimed another victim this week, after 27-year-old Parameswaran Presteen succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening.

The Jaffna University science graduate was critically injured in the attack and was receiving treatment for his injuries at the Batticaloa Hospital, where he passed away. 

He had been waiting to hear back from a job application, before he was killed last Sunday.

Homes in Jaffna were searched by armed Sri Lankan soldiers, as security operations across the North-East continue.

Sri Lankan military and police carried out a search operation at the University of Jaffna during the early hours of the morning local time, arresting the president and the secretary of the Arts Union. 

A Sri Lankan parliamentarian claimed the former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave the National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) land for an office in Colombo, amidst claims the organisation was on the Sri Lankan intelligence payroll.

Members of the NTJ are accused of carrying out the Easter Sunday attacks that killed hundreds of people on suicide bomb explosions at churches and hotels across the island. The organisation has since been banned by the Sri Lankan government.

Sri Lankan police have instructed families in Trincomalee to register their details with authorities. 

<p>Following the Easter Sunday bombing in Sri Lanka, which claimed the lives of over 250 people, the Indian National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has launched sweeping raids in Tamil Nadu and Kerala resulting in two arrests.</p> <p>In Kerala, the NIA arrested Riyas Aboobacker, who was residing in the Palakkad area of Kerala, after gaining confessions that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala.</p>

A statue of St Anthony's at the shrine in Pallakandal, Puttalam was vandalised on Tuesday. 

The sister of Zahran Hashim, Mathaniya Mohammed Hashim, was arrested yesterday by Sri Lankan police. 

Zahran, the leader of the now banned, National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), was responsible for the Easter Sunday bombing at the luxury hotel, Shangri-La. 

Police reported that Rs 20 lakhs was found at Mathaniya's house in New Kathankudy. 

^{St Anthony's church, Colombo after Easter Sunday bombings}

Sri Lankan police yesterday named the nine men and women responsible for the Easter Sunday suicide bombings which killed over 250 people. 

Confirming reports over recent days, the police said the sons of the wealthy spice merchant were responsible for the bombing of two luxury hotels.