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Afghanistan
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Sri Lanka
Report:2019
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Date
Incidents
January - 10 
According to the latest edition of The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, which provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide, Sri Lanka fell back in democracy in 2018 more than any other country in the region, reports Colombo Page on January 10.According to the 11th edition of
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According to the latest edition of The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, which provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide, Sri Lanka fell back in democracy in 2018 more than any other country in the region, reports Colombo Page on January 10.According to the 11th edition of the Democracy Index, Sri Lanka saw a marked decrease in its score from 6.48 in 2017 to 6.19, driven by a worsening in the functioning of government and in civil liberties.The report said although Sri Lanka and seven other countries include the word ‘democratic’, in their full titles not one of these countries is actually fully democratic.Sri Lanka has been classified as a "Flawed democracy"."The country was plunged into a constitutional crisis in late October when the president, Maithripala Sirisena, announced the dismissal of the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, replacing him with an ally, Mahinda Rajapaksa (who served as president in 2005-15). This overreach of the president's powers has dampened public confidence in government," the report said. Elsewhere in South Asian region India ranked 41 with a score of 7.23, Bangladesh ranked 88, Bhutan 94, Nepal 97, Pakistan 112 and Afghanistan 143 in the bottom five.Norway, ranked first as a full democracy, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Denmark ranked in the top five in that order.
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January - 26 
Dozens of members of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority on January 26 marched towards a sprawling Keppapulavu army camp in Mullaitivu District in Northern Province, determined to breach its perimeter and reclaim their homes, reports Colombo Page. Keppapulavu's residents fled their houses in 2008 during the
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Dozens of members of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority on January 26 marched towards a sprawling Keppapulavu army camp in Mullaitivu District in Northern Province, determined to breach its perimeter and reclaim their homes, reports Colombo Page. Keppapulavu's residents fled their houses in 2008 during the bloody last phase of Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war, which was fought between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The military occupied over 500 acres of Tamil-owned residential land in Keppapulavu, subsuming the former residents' homes in expansive camps. When the war ended in 2009, Keppapulavu's former residents were moved to Manik Farm, a military-run displacement camp plagued by widespread human rights violations, according to a 2015 United Nations (UN) report. Manik Farm was closed in 2012, and the 560 former Keppapulavu residents remaining in the camp were resettled on small plots of undeveloped jungle in Sooripuram, a village that borders Keppapulavu.
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February - 26 
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global policy setter on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), has made the initial determination that Sri Lanka has completed its action plan, reports Colombo Page on February 26. As part of its ongoing review of compli
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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global policy setter on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), has made the initial determination that Sri Lanka has completed its action plan, reports Colombo Page on February 26. As part of its ongoing review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, FATF at the Plenary held during February20-22, 2019 in Paris has decided that Sri Lanka warrants an on-site assessment to verify that the implementation of AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future.As per the decision taken by FATF Plenary, a team of evaluators will be visiting Sri Lanka during May 2019 and the team will meet all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and the highest political authorities to verify the implementation of the FATF Action Plan and to ascertain Sri Lanka's political commitment towards implementation of AML/CFT.
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March - 6 
Official results of tests to find out more details about the bodies found in Sri Lanka's biggest mass grave in Mannar in Northern Province are expected to be revealed soon, reports Colombo Page on March 6. The remains of more than 300 people were discovered in March 2018, in Mannar, a town in Mannar
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Official results of tests to find out more details about the bodies found in Sri Lanka's biggest mass grave in Mannar in Northern Province are expected to be revealed soon, reports Colombo Page on March 6. The remains of more than 300 people were discovered in March 2018, in Mannar, a town in Mannar District of Northern Province. With hundreds still missing after the end of the civil war, the discovery of the mass grave has led to hope and despair among the families of the missing, but investigators are first attempting to determine if the grave is related to the war and not to a natural disaster or crime.
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March - 7 
The six bone samples obtained from the Mannar mass grave in Northern Province have been identified as belonging to the period from 1499 - 1719 AD, according to carbon dating tests, reports Colombo Page on March 7.Six human bone samples obtained from the Mannar mass grave under the observation of the
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The six bone samples obtained from the Mannar mass grave in Northern Province have been identified as belonging to the period from 1499 - 1719 AD, according to carbon dating tests, reports Colombo Page on March 7.Six human bone samples obtained from the Mannar mass grave under the observation of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) were sent to the Beta Analytics in Miami in Florida in United States (US) for radiocarbon dating to determine the time periods in which the deaths occurred.Reports of the radiocarbon dating tests conducted on the bone samples was received last month and handed over to the Mannar Magistrate. Skeletal remains of 315 people and human bones have been unearthed from the mass grave located at the sites of the old Sathosa Building in the Mannar town in Mannar District of Northern Province. Out of those, skeletal remains of 307 individuals have been systematically removed and currently sealed and placed in a special chamber at the Mannar Magistrate's Court complex. Among the bones found are skeletal remains of 26 children.
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March - 13 
The United States (US) State Department's Human Rights Report for 2018 which released on March 13 said that although the constitution and law prohibit Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, authorities reportedly employed them in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Sri
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The United States (US) State Department's Human Rights Report for 2018 which released on March 13 said that although the constitution and law prohibit Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, authorities reportedly employed them in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Sri Lanka's military and police harassed civilians with impunity although civilian authorities generally maintained control over the security forces, the report said. It added that the Government is yet to implement a mechanism to hold accountable government security personnel accused of crimes during the civil war. During the year, however, the Government took steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish some officials who committed human rights abuses, the report noted. Human rights issues included unlawful killings; torture, notably sexual abuse; arbitrary detention by government forces; website blocking; violence against lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons and criminalization of same-sex sexual activity; and corruption. The US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor published its 43rd annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 13 released the report to the public.
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March - 26 
The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry revived the Counter Terrorism Unit in the Ministry to coordinate more closely between the defence, law enforcement authorities, other relevant agencies and Sri Lankan missions abroad on counter terrorism and counter crime initiatives, reports Colombo Gazette on March
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The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry revived the Counter Terrorism Unit in the Ministry to coordinate more closely between the defence, law enforcement authorities, other relevant agencies and Sri Lankan missions abroad on counter terrorism and counter crime initiatives, reports Colombo Gazette on March 26. The Counter Terrorism Unit has been revived with a view heightening cooperation relating to combating terrorism, other transnational crimes and the rise of violent extremism, the Foreign Ministry said. The Counter Terrorism Unit will most importantly coordinated efforts to continue the proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization by foreign governments. In this context, the Ministry has continued its dialogue with the European Union (EU) on counter–terrorism measures, including providing input towards the EU’s review of proscribed terrorist organizations.
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March - 28 
The Sri Lanka Army has released over five acres of private and state land held by the Security Forces (SFs) in Ampara and Trincomalee in the Eastern Province, reports Colombo Page on March 29. Documents pertaining to three acres of private land in Thiriyaya under Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat (
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The Sri Lanka Army has released over five acres of private and state land held by the Security Forces (SFs) in Ampara and Trincomalee in the Eastern Province, reports Colombo Page on March 29. Documents pertaining to three acres of private land in Thiriyaya under Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat (DS), 0.5 acre in Periyanilaweliin, Ampara under Kalmunai DS and a two-acre plot of state land in Thirukkovil area were formally handed over to the Governor of Eastern Province, M L A M. Hizbullah and the Assistant District Secretary for onward arrangements during a brief ceremony held at the Governor’s Office in Trincomalee on March 25, the Army said.
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March - 29 
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is set to carry out its first visit to Sri Lanka from April 2 to 12, the Office of the High commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced on March 29, reports Colombo Page. The UN torture prevention body's visit aims to examine the treatment
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The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is set to carry out its first visit to Sri Lanka from April 2 to 12, the Office of the High commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced on March 29, reports Colombo Page. The UN torture prevention body's visit aims to examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and the safeguards in place for their protection against torture and ill-treatment. The four-member delegation will meet Government officials and hold discussions with relevant ministries, as well as meeting with the Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations. Their talks in Colombo will focus on advising and assisting the Sri Lankan authorities regarding the measures they must take to be in compliance with the obligations contained in the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.
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April - 4 
Meanwhile, the delegation of the United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) visited the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on April 4, reports Colombo Page. The four-member delegation is expected to meet Government officials and hold discussions with relevant ministries, a
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Meanwhile, the delegation of the United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) visited the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on April 4, reports Colombo Page. The four-member delegation is expected to meet Government officials and hold discussions with relevant ministries, as well as meeting with the Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations. During the visit, the delegation will be exploring the steps Sri Lanka needs to take to effectively prevent torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty, a statement said.
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April - 5 
The leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Member of Parliament (MP) R. Sampanthan was appointed to the Constitutional Council on April 5 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of MP Chamal Rajapaksa from the membership of the Constitutional Council (CC), reports Colombo Page. The decis
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The leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Member of Parliament (MP) R. Sampanthan was appointed to the Constitutional Council on April 5 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of MP Chamal Rajapaksa from the membership of the Constitutional Council (CC), reports Colombo Page. The decision to appoint Sampanthan was taken when the CC met at the Parliament chaired by the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on April 5.
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April - 7 
Some former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres have recently alleged they are under constant surveillance by the military though they have undergone rehabilitation, reports The Island on April 7. They have also claimed that military interference has hampered their political activity. Uni
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Some former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres have recently alleged they are under constant surveillance by the military though they have undergone rehabilitation, reports The Island on April 7. They have also claimed that military interference has hampered their political activity. United States (US) Human Rights activist Critina James, on April 5 received a briefing from former LTTE cadres during a visit to the Jaffna peninsula. The former LTTE cadres said that they had also complained to the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) about military interference. They met the US activist as members of a North-based political party consisting of ex-LTTE cadres. They alleged the people were still suspicious of them due to the military constantly watching their movements.
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April - 12 
Four Sri Lankans who were arrested on April 11 at the Luton Airport in United Kingdom (UK) over a terrorism investigation were released on April 12, the Metropolitan Police said in a special statement, reports The Sunday Times. The suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of membership of a pro
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Four Sri Lankans who were arrested on April 11 at the Luton Airport in United Kingdom (UK) over a terrorism investigation were released on April 12, the Metropolitan Police said in a special statement, reports The Sunday Times. The suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000. British media reported that the men who had arrived on April 10 had attempted to claim asylum upon arrival in UK by claiming that they were facing persecution in Sri Lanka over ‘connections’ to the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Further investigations are being carried out by the Metropolitan Police.
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April - 18 
According to a leading survey, Sri Lanka showed significant improvement in press freedom this year ranking five notches higher than last year in the World Press Freedom Index 2019, reports Colombo Page on April 18. The annual World Press Freedom Index for 2019 compiled by Paris based Reporters Witho
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According to a leading survey, Sri Lanka showed significant improvement in press freedom this year ranking five notches higher than last year in the World Press Freedom Index 2019, reports Colombo Page on April 18. The annual World Press Freedom Index for 2019 compiled by Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Sri Lanka 126th out of 180 countries climbing five notches from 131st in 2018. The overall global score improved to 39.61 this year from 41.37 in 2018 on a 0-100 scale with 100 being the worst.
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April - 21 
Also, one of the suspects of Easter Sunday attacks in Colombo had written a letter to his mother asking for her forgiveness before killing himself inside a house in Mahawila Gardens Dematagoda on April 21, a senior official of the Colombo Crimes Division said, reports The Island. "We found the lette
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Also, one of the suspects of Easter Sunday attacks in Colombo had written a letter to his mother asking for her forgiveness before killing himself inside a house in Mahawila Gardens Dematagoda on April 21, a senior official of the Colombo Crimes Division said, reports The Island. "We found the letter when we searched the house. He had written that he had carried out the attack in the name of his religion."
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April - 21 
Sri Lankan Police said that 24 suspects were arrested so far in connection with the series of explosions that rocked the country on April 21, reports Colombo Page. The suspects are being detained in the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and interrogated.
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Sri Lankan Police said that 24 suspects were arrested so far in connection with the series of explosions that rocked the country on April 21, reports Colombo Page. The suspects are being detained in the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and interrogated.
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April - 21 April - 23
The death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attacks increased to 310 by April 23 (today) morning with 500 people have been injured, Police Spokesman RuwanGunasekara said, reports Daily Mirror. At least 307 civilians and three Security Forces (SFs) were among the dead. Additionally, seven s
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The death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attacks increased to 310 by April 23 (today) morning with 500 people have been injured, Police Spokesman RuwanGunasekara said, reports Daily Mirror. At least 307 civilians and three Security Forces (SFs) were among the dead. Additionally, seven suicide bombers were also killed in the series of coordinated attacks on April 21. Earlier, SATP had reported that at least 207 persons were killed and over 450 persons were injured in a series of coordinated bomb blasts at churches and luxury hotels in the country on April 21.
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April - 21 April - 24
According to Sri Lankan Police, the death toll in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 on April 24, reports The Hindu.
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According to Sri Lankan Police, the death toll in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 on April 24, reports The Hindu.
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April - 21 April - 25
Sri Lankan Authorities on April 25 revised the death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday multiple suicide bombings to 253, from 359 originally estimated earlier, reports Colombo Page.Sri Lankan Health Ministry reportedly said that the death toll of the attacks revised to 253 from the previously 359
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Sri Lankan Authorities on April 25 revised the death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday multiple suicide bombings to 253, from 359 originally estimated earlier, reports Colombo Page.Sri Lankan Health Ministry reportedly said that the death toll of the attacks revised to 253 from the previously 359 after a calculation error was discovered.Reportedly body parts of the deceased had been counted wrongly in the aftermath of the attacks. Earlier SATP also reported that the death toll in the attacks in had risen to 359 on April 24.
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April - 22 
International police organization, INTERPOL is deploying a team to Sri Lanka to assist the national authorities investigating the series of bomb attacks at churches and hotels which left nearly 310 dead and some 500 injured, reports Colombo Page. Checks are already being made against the Organizatio
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International police organization, INTERPOL is deploying a team to Sri Lanka to assist the national authorities investigating the series of bomb attacks at churches and hotels which left nearly 310 dead and some 500 injured, reports Colombo Page. Checks are already being made against the Organization's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents and nominal databases in order to identify potential investigative leads and international connections, INTERPOL said in a statement on April 22. Deployed at the request of the Sri Lankan authorities, the Incident Response Team (IRT) will include specialists with expertise in crime scene examination, explosives, counter-terrorism, disaster victim identification and analysis.
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April - 22 
Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan court on April 22 remanded nine of the 24 suspects arrested over the Easter Day attacks until May 6, reports Colombo Page. Colombo Additional Magistrate ChannaSaliyaAbeyratne remanded the suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Wellampitiya Police, prese
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Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan court on April 22 remanded nine of the 24 suspects arrested over the Easter Day attacks until May 6, reports Colombo Page. Colombo Additional Magistrate ChannaSaliyaAbeyratne remanded the suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Wellampitiya Police, presenting its report in the investigations, told the court that a factory belonging to the suicide bomber who attacked the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo and the two women who died in the suicide bomb explosion at a Dematagoda house was found in Wellampitiya area. The Police further said that the suspects have been employed at bomber's factory and that investigations are proceeding to uncover if the suspects are acquainted with the suicide bombers. The two women who died in the explosion at Dematagoda are revealed to be the wife and the sister of the suicide bomber at the Shangri-La hotel, the Police further told the court. The suspects reportedly include seven Muslims, one Sinhalese and one Tamil.
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April - 22 
Meanwhile, the United States (US) warned American citizens traveling to Sri Lanka to exercise increased caution due to possible terrorist attacks following Easter Sunday bomb attacks on churches and five -star hotels in Colombo, reports Colombo Page on April 23. A Level-2 Travel Advisory, issued by
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Meanwhile, the United States (US) warned American citizens traveling to Sri Lanka to exercise increased caution due to possible terrorist attacks following Easter Sunday bomb attacks on churches and five -star hotels in Colombo, reports Colombo Page on April 23. A Level-2 Travel Advisory, issued by the State Department said, "Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas."
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April - 22 
Separately, a stock of explosives was unearthed in a homestead of a resident at Erukkalampitti in Ouluthuduwai in Mannar District of Northern Province by the Police on April 22, reports The Island. The landowner, while cleaning his garden, noticed the stock of explosives and informed the Police. The
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Separately, a stock of explosives was unearthed in a homestead of a resident at Erukkalampitti in Ouluthuduwai in Mannar District of Northern Province by the Police on April 22, reports The Island. The landowner, while cleaning his garden, noticed the stock of explosives and informed the Police. The explosives had been hidden in a plastic barrel buried in the garden, Police said.
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April - 22 
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on April 22, in a gazette notification declared a State of Emergency in Sri Lanka to maintain public security and essential services, reports Colombo Page. The Extraordinary Gazette notification stating that the clauses that deal with the Prevention of Terr
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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on April 22, in a gazette notification declared a State of Emergency in Sri Lanka to maintain public security and essential services, reports Colombo Page. The Extraordinary Gazette notification stating that the clauses that deal with the Prevention of Terrorism will be brought under Emergency Regulations has been issued on April 122 midnight. The President's office had announced that the nationwide emergency law, which gives Police and the military new powers to detain and interrogate suspects without a court's approval, will be effective from midnight April 22. The decision to gazette the antiterrorism regulations was taken at the National Security Council meeting presided over by the President on April 21. Meanwhile, the bill on the emergency law will be presented before the parliament for debate on April 24 at a parliamentary session between 10 am and 4 pm.
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April - 22 
The Sri Lankan Government on April 22 admitted that foreign intelligence authorities warned of imminent terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday (April 21), reports Daily Mirror. Heath Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that foreign intelligence authorities alerted the local defence agencies even ten min
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The Sri Lankan Government on April 22 admitted that foreign intelligence authorities warned of imminent terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday (April 21), reports Daily Mirror. Heath Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that foreign intelligence authorities alerted the local defence agencies even ten minutes before attacks. “These intelligence authorities have informed, from time to time, starting from April 4, 48 hours before the attacks and finally ten minutes before tragedy struck. They gave warnings about a possible attack on April 4 for the first time. Thereafter, National Intelligence Chief SisiraMendis, on behalf of the Defence Secretary, had informed the Inspector General Police (IGP) about the imminent attacks. He had actually informed that an organisation called ‘ThowheedJamath’ planned suicide attacks and had even mentioned their names. “He had informed that ThowheedJamath leaders Zaran Hashmi, JalhalHital, SajitMoulawi and Silhan had arrived in Sri Lanka to carry out the coordinated attacks. Then, DIG PriyalalDassanayake had informed the ministerial security division (MSD), judicial security division, security divisions in charge of former presidents and the Diplomatic Security Unit. However, he had failed to warn the Prime Ministerial Security Division (PMSD) and the Presidential Security Division (PSD) on the attacks. Although the Security Council meetings had been convened after last December, council member and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was never invited,” The Minister said.
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April - 23 
According to sources, the Sri Lankan State intelligence agencies had gathered information about 160 National ThowheedJamath (NTJ) members who had been trained by terrorists, but it had not been possible to arrest them as there had been no orders from higher authorities, reports The Island on April 2
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According to sources, the Sri Lankan State intelligence agencies had gathered information about 160 National ThowheedJamath (NTJ) members who had been trained by terrorists, but it had not been possible to arrest them as there had been no orders from higher authorities, reports The Island on April 24. Investigations had revealed that a group of persons, who had undergone training previously had trained the suicide cadres who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels. The investigators had not received orders from higher authorities to make arrests while the probe was on though information about the terrorists had been conveyed to the Defence Ministry and the Police, sources said. The information about the Islamic extremist group was elicited following a raid on a training facility of the terrorist group on a 75-acre coconut plantation in Wanatavilluwa, in January. Several persons responsible for destroying some Buddha statues in Mawanella were arrested by the CID, last December, and their arrests led the police to the Wanathawilluwa training facility. The investigators acted on an SMS received by one of the suspects to trace the camp. The CID recovered about 100 kilos of powerful C4 explosives, six gallons of nitrogen and 99 detonators buried on the plantation, on January 16. Investigations revealed that the members of the terrorist group had been trained in weapon handling in carrying out bomb attacks. Leader of the NTJ, SahajanHashim, had visited the training facility frequently and conducted lectures to the new recruits, sources said, adding that bombs had also been manufactured at the camp.
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April - 23 
However, Daily Mirror reports that Sri Lankan Police have detained a Syrian among 40 persons who are being questioned about the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels.
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However, Daily Mirror reports that Sri Lankan Police have detained a Syrian among 40 persons who are being questioned about the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels.
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April - 23 
The Islamic State (IS or Daesh) has claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka which killed 321 people and injured about 500 others, the group's Amaq News Agency said on April 23, reports Colombo Page. However, the group did not give evidence for its claim. After claiming respon
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The Islamic State (IS or Daesh) has claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka which killed 321 people and injured about 500 others, the group's Amaq News Agency said on April 23, reports Colombo Page. However, the group did not give evidence for its claim. After claiming responsibility for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, the Islamic State (IS) on April 23 released a photo and a video of the mastermind of the attack and other suicide bombers, reports Colombo Page. The video and the photo released through the terrorist organization's official news outlet Amaq News Agency show the suicide bombers with the leader Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Amaq News Agency released a video showing the Sri Lanka attackers pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In another report by the Amaq News Agency, a photo shows eight men allegedly Sri Lankan suicide bombers with the IS leader. Along with the photo, a report issued in Arabic on April 23, said "martyrdom-seeking attacks" and blasts from explosive devices, carried out by Islamic State fighters during a Christian holiday. The report said the attacks primarily targeted Christian churches and hotels in which foreigners were present, and involved seven martyrdom-seeking attacks and several explosive devices.
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April - 23 
The death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attacks increased to 321 with 500 persons were injured, reports Colombo Page on April 24. At least 45 children were among the 321 persons killed in the suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, the United Nations (UN) said on April 23, reports Daily Mir
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The death toll from the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attacks increased to 321 with 500 persons were injured, reports Colombo Page on April 24. At least 45 children were among the 321 persons killed in the suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, the United Nations (UN) said on April 23, reports Daily Mirror. “The total now is 45 children who died,” UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac told reporters in Geneva, stressing that others “are wounded and are now fighting for their lives,” meaning the toll among minors from the Sunday attacks could rise.
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April - 23 
Two brothers carried out two of the hotel suicide blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, part of a wave of bombings that killed more than 321 persons, Police sources said on April 23, reports Colombo Page. The brothers, sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader, blew themselves up as guests queued for b
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Two brothers carried out two of the hotel suicide blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, part of a wave of bombings that killed more than 321 persons, Police sources said on April 23, reports Colombo Page. The brothers, sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader, blew themselves up as guests queued for breakfast at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the capital, Colombo, the source said. An attack on a fourth hotel failed and helped lead Police to the Islamist group now blamed for the assault, they added. The brothers, whose names have not been revealed, were in their late twenties and operated their own "family cell", an investigation officer said. But it was not clear what ties they had to the other bombers involved in the devastating attacks against three high-end hotels and three churches. The pair were key members of the National ThowheethJama'ath (NTJ) which the government has blamed for the attacks, the official added. The whereabouts of the brothers' parents was unknown. But the blasts had a further impact on the family. One brother gave false identity details when he checked into the hotel, the investigator said. The other gave a real address which led police commandos to their family home in a commercial area of Colombo. "When the Special Task Force went there to investigate, one brother's wife set off explosives killing herself and her two children," the officer said. "It was a single terror cell operated by one family," the investigator said. "They had the cash and the motivation. They operated the cell and it is believed they influenced their extended family." Three police commandos were killed in the blast, and several extended family members are among those in detention. The brothers had been involved in their father's lucrative spice export business, investigators said. One brother checked into the Cinnamon Grand hotel and the other the Shangri-La on April 20. The next morning on April 21, at virtually the same time, they went to the hotels' Easter Sunday breakfast buffets and blew up explosives-laden backpacks, the officer said. Another bomb tore through a restaurant at the nearby Kingsbury hotel. Minutes before, similar explosions devastated three churches. Investigators said it was not known whether the brothers were in contact with the other bombers. Another would-be suicide bomber walked into a fourth luxury hotel in Colombo on April 21, official sources said. "This man had also checked into the hotel the previous day," the source said. It was not known if his explosives failed or he had a change of heart. But after the Shangri-la blast, staff at the unnamed hotel became suspicious and the man was tracked to a lodging near the capital. He blew himself up there when confronted by Police, the source said. Two bystanders were also killed. "What we have seen from the CCTV footage is that all the suicide bombers were carrying very heavy backpacks. These appear to be crude devices made locally," the source said.
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April - 23 
Two vehicles suspected to have laden with bombs had entered the Colombo city, intelligence units revealed on April 23, reports Colombo Page. The intelligence report sent by the SeethawakaPura Superintendent of Police (SP) identified the two vehicles as a light blue sedan with plate number 15 - 0316
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Two vehicles suspected to have laden with bombs had entered the Colombo city, intelligence units revealed on April 23, reports Colombo Page. The intelligence report sent by the SeethawakaPura Superintendent of Police (SP) identified the two vehicles as a light blue sedan with plate number 15 - 0316 and a white car with plate no. CBF 1668. After receiving information, the DIG in charge of Colombo District has alerted all police stations in the Colombo District and has tightened security in the District.
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April - 24 
Two suspects involved in the deadly Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka were Islamic State (IS) returnees from Syria and Iraq, investigators have found, reports The Hindu on April 25. The suspects’ exact role in planning and executing the ghastly serial bombings remains unclear, but Sri Lankan intell
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Two suspects involved in the deadly Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka were Islamic State (IS) returnees from Syria and Iraq, investigators have found, reports The Hindu on April 25. The suspects’ exact role in planning and executing the ghastly serial bombings remains unclear, but Sri Lankan intelligence has established that the two young men were IS-trained, said Colombo-based source who was part of a recent, high-level discussion on the attacks. “Now the pieces of the puzzle should start coming together,” the source said. Police spokesman RuwanGunasekara on April 24 said that, “A total of 60 suspects have been arrested so far”. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is chiefly investigating the attacks, is interrogating at least 32 suspects now, while the rest are in custody at different Police stations. Investigators are also studying if suspects had been moving about in the region in the recent past, official sources said. So far Sri Lanka’s investigating agencies have identified 139 persons as members of the National ThowheethJamaath (NTJ) and associated groups and ‘traced all of them’, an official Colombo-based source said. “It is believed that not all of them are militant, but details of their possible role in the attacks are still emerging.” Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States (US) intelligence and law enforcement agency, will be assisting Sri Lanka in the investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on churches and hotels that killed 359 persons, reports Colombo Page. A spokesperson of the US Embassy in Colombo on April 24 confirmed to local media that the FBI will be providing technical assistance to the Sri Lankan Police investigating the attacks. Also, the State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, DilipWedaarachchi has given strict advice to the Ceylon Fishery Harbors Corporation and all the responsible officials to take immediate action to ensure the safety of all fisheries harbors with the assistance of the Security Forces (SFs), considering the situation at hand, reports Colombo Page. The Minister has ordered to take all necessary measures to fulfil this task with responsibility to assist the SFs with the operations following the Easter Sunday attacks as well as to strengthen the country's security.
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April - 24 
Meanwhile, one of the nine suicide bombers that detonated explosives on Easter Sunday was a woman, State Minister of Defence RuwanWijewardene said on April 24, reports Daily Mirror. The Minister’s comment came after Police confirmed that nine suicide bombers were involved in the blasts and eight hav
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Meanwhile, one of the nine suicide bombers that detonated explosives on Easter Sunday was a woman, State Minister of Defence RuwanWijewardene said on April 24, reports Daily Mirror. The Minister’s comment came after Police confirmed that nine suicide bombers were involved in the blasts and eight have been identified. It has been revealed that one of the suicide bombers had studied in Britain and Australia, report said. SATP earlier had reported that seven suicide bombers were killed in the attacks.
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April - 26 
Also, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara on April 26 said that 80 suspects had been arrested so far on suspicion of having links with the recent terror attacks, reports Daily Mirror. Police on April 26 arrested 10 suspects during the search operations carried out island wide.
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Also, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara on April 26 said that 80 suspects had been arrested so far on suspicion of having links with the recent terror attacks, reports Daily Mirror. Police on April 26 arrested 10 suspects during the search operations carried out island wide.
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April - 26 
Security Forces (SFs), during a raid, recovered a huge cache of explosives and Islamic State (IS) uniforms, flags from a house in Sammanthurai in Ampara District of Eastern Province on April 26, reports Colombo Page. SFs recovered IS uniforms, flags, 150 sticks of explosive Gelignite, about 200,000
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Security Forces (SFs), during a raid, recovered a huge cache of explosives and Islamic State (IS) uniforms, flags from a house in Sammanthurai in Ampara District of Eastern Province on April 26, reports Colombo Page. SFs recovered IS uniforms, flags, 150 sticks of explosive Gelignite, about 200,000 ball bearings, batteries, wires, a drone camera and various items for manufacturing bombs, including urea and other chemicals. The place was identified as the location where the photos of National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) suicide bombers pledging their leader were taken. Sources said that it was the place where the NJT leader, Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Zahran had recorded the video footage of the suicide bombers pledging their leader, which had been sent to the media two days ago. The IS's black uniform, the shoes as well as the flag in the background of the video were among the items found in the raid on April 26.
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April - 27 
The Police Media Spokesman's Office on April 27 said that 20 suspects were arrested during the preceding 24 hours. Kattankudy Police during a raid arrested seven suspects including the driver of Zhahran Hashim, the leader of the April 21 suicide bomb attackers. In a joint operation conducted by the
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The Police Media Spokesman's Office on April 27 said that 20 suspects were arrested during the preceding 24 hours. Kattankudy Police during a raid arrested seven suspects including the driver of Zhahran Hashim, the leader of the April 21 suicide bomb attackers. In a joint operation conducted by the Kalpitiya Police and the Navy, a suspect, who was in the possession of 50 SIM cards and other incriminating items, was arrested. The 40-year-old suspect is a Tamil medium teacher at a school in Horana area. Police also seized a laptop, seven CDs and two smartphones. The special attention of the Police is focused on why the suspect was in the possession of 50 SIM cards.
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April - 27 
Sri Lankan Police and Security Forces (SFs) have so far arrested 106 suspects in connection with the deadly Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels in the country that killed 253 persons, reports Colombo Page on April 27. The Police said that the Criminal Investigations Department
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Sri Lankan Police and Security Forces (SFs) have so far arrested 106 suspects in connection with the deadly Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels in the country that killed 253 persons, reports Colombo Page on April 27. The Police said that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has questioned a number of the suspects.
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April - 27 
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, under the Emergency Regulations, on April 27 banned the National ThowheethJama'ath (NTJ), a jihadist group implicated in the April 21 Easter Sunday bombings and the splinter group JamatheiMillathu Ibrahim (JMI) in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. President'
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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, under the Emergency Regulations, on April 27 banned the National ThowheethJama'ath (NTJ), a jihadist group implicated in the April 21 Easter Sunday bombings and the splinter group JamatheiMillathu Ibrahim (JMI) in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. President's Media Division said that, "President Maithripala Sirisena, in terms of powers vested in him as the under-Emergency Regulations No. 01 of 2019, has taken steps to ban the organizations National ThawheedJammath (NTJ) and JamatheiMillathuIbraheem (JMI) in Sri Lanka". As such, all activities of those organizations as well as their property will be seized by the Government. Steps are being taken to ban other extremist organizations operating in Sri Lanka, under Emergency Regulations, President's Office said.
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April - 28 
A recent survey by the Security Forces (SFs) intelligence wings revealed that there are 45 Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) mosques throughout the country with a membership of about 139, reports Daily Mirror on April 29. It was reported that even women are allowed to enter these mosques as the infor
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A recent survey by the Security Forces (SFs) intelligence wings revealed that there are 45 Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) mosques throughout the country with a membership of about 139, reports Daily Mirror on April 29. It was reported that even women are allowed to enter these mosques as the information received by the security divisions. The first leader of this organisation was Nizam a Barrister in England and educated in a university there. The information received further reveals that he had gone to Syria in 2012 and obtained a training after joining the Islamic State (IS). After returning to the country he had revisited Syria with 45 persons and had given training to them. However, he had been killed during this period. The 45 have returned to the island after the training and now they have 139 members in this organisation as revealed. They have been trained in making bombs and six who exploded suicide bombs are members of this organisation.
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April - 28 
In a special joint operation conducted by the Army and Police in Vavuniya town, 10 suspects were arrested. On information received, main roads were blocked and search operations were carried out for nearly three hours. Security has already been confirmed in the area.
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In a special joint operation conducted by the Army and Police in Vavuniya town, 10 suspects were arrested. On information received, main roads were blocked and search operations were carried out for nearly three hours. Security has already been confirmed in the area.
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April - 28 
Meanwhile, troops at Nintavur detected a brand-new unregistered van, suspected to be belonging to the National Towheed Jamat (NTJ)'s leader, Saharan's brother-in-law, named Niyas, reports Colombo Page. Following detection of two ID cards, initial reports confirmed the said van had been bought in Akk
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Meanwhile, troops at Nintavur detected a brand-new unregistered van, suspected to be belonging to the National Towheed Jamat (NTJ)'s leader, Saharan's brother-in-law, named Niyas, reports Colombo Page. Following detection of two ID cards, initial reports confirmed the said van had been bought in Akkaraipattu on cash on April19, 2019.
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April - 28 
The father and two brothers of the suspected mastermind of Easter Sunday bombings were killed when Security Forces (SFs) stormed their safe house on April 26, Police sources and a relative of the suicide bombers said on April 28, reports Colombo Page. Zainee Hashim, Rilwan Hashim and their father Mo
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The father and two brothers of the suspected mastermind of Easter Sunday bombings were killed when Security Forces (SFs) stormed their safe house on April 26, Police sources and a relative of the suicide bombers said on April 28, reports Colombo Page. Zainee Hashim, Rilwan Hashim and their father Mohamed Hashim, who were seen in a video circulating on social media calling for all-out war against non-believers, were among 15 killed in a fierce gun battle with the military on the east coast on April 26, Police sources said. Three of the people killed in April 26’s gun battle were the same people who were seen in the undated video on social media, in which they discus martyrdom and urge their followers to kill all non-believers, police sources said. SATP had earlier reported that 15 dead bodies were found at a house where several explosions took place in Kalmunai in Ampara District of Eastern Province on April 26.
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April - 28 
The Sri Lankan Government Intelligence Service received information on an attack targeting the Buddhist temples by the National ThawheethJama’ath (NTJ), using female bombers, reports Daily Mirror on April 29. The officers of the Government intelligence service have found white pairs of skirts and bl
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The Sri Lankan Government Intelligence Service received information on an attack targeting the Buddhist temples by the National ThawheethJama’ath (NTJ), using female bombers, reports Daily Mirror on April 29. The officers of the Government intelligence service have found white pairs of skirts and blouses from the house which was raided after the explosion in Sainthamaradu area in Ampara District of Eastern Province. The intelligence services raise doubts that this type of clothes had been purchased by them to direct an attack on a temple by female bombers posing as Buddhist devotees.
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April - 29 
Meanwhile, the President's Media Division on April 29 denied the claims published in several news websites that President Maithripala Sirisena had been informed of Easter Sunday bomb attacks in advance on three occasions, reports Colombo Page. President's Media Division, in a statement said, "In the
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Meanwhile, the President's Media Division on April 29 denied the claims published in several news websites that President Maithripala Sirisena had been informed of Easter Sunday bomb attacks in advance on three occasions, reports Colombo Page. President's Media Division, in a statement said, "In the aftermath of the terror attacks on Easter Sunday, some malicious reporting are circulating on the internet, claiming that the President was had been informed of the Easter Sunday attack prior to the outbreak of the attack. President’s Media Division denies claims published in some websites that the President had been made aware of the attack before it happened."
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April - 29 
Muslim women in Sri Lanka will not be allowed to wear face veils in public from April 29 (today) under the emergency regulations, reports Colombo Page. President Maithripala Sirisena has taken steps under the emergency regulation to prohibit the use of face coverings of all sorts which is an obstacl
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Muslim women in Sri Lanka will not be allowed to wear face veils in public from April 29 (today) under the emergency regulations, reports Colombo Page. President Maithripala Sirisena has taken steps under the emergency regulation to prohibit the use of face coverings of all sorts which is an obstacle to ensure the identity of the people and a threat to national and public security, the President's Media Division said. The order clarifies that the key criterion for establishing the identity of a person is the need to clearly expose the face. The President has taken this decision to establish a peaceful and cohesive society which does not inconvenience any community people as well as ensure national security.
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April - 29 
Sri Lankan intelligence services believe the Easter Sunday suicide bombers had ‘very clear’ links to Islamic State (IS), President Maithripala Sirisena said on April 29, reports CNN. President Maithripala Sirisena said the terror group had provided training to the perpetrators of last week's attacks
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Sri Lankan intelligence services believe the Easter Sunday suicide bombers had ‘very clear’ links to Islamic State (IS), President Maithripala Sirisena said on April 29, reports CNN. President Maithripala Sirisena said the terror group had provided training to the perpetrators of last week's attacks, and that links between ISIS and extremists in Sri Lanka could be traced back 15 years.
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April - 29 
Sri Lankan Police have so far arrested 59 suspects with terrorist links including the six most wanted suspects for the Easter Sunday's deadly bomb attacks, SP RuwanGunasekara, Police Spokesman said on April 29, reports Colombo Page. During a joint Police and Tri Forces media briefing on April 29, SP
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Sri Lankan Police have so far arrested 59 suspects with terrorist links including the six most wanted suspects for the Easter Sunday's deadly bomb attacks, SP RuwanGunasekara, Police Spokesman said on April 29, reports Colombo Page. During a joint Police and Tri Forces media briefing on April 29, SP Gunasekara said of the arrested suspects, 44 including 7 women are in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) while 15 suspects including 2 women are being detained in the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) for questioning. Seven of those suspects are linked to the explosion at Dehiwala Tropical Inn hotel, near the Zoological gardens. All six wanted suspects, whose photos were released to the general public have now been arrested including a wanted woman from Mawanella. Brigadier SumithAtapattu, Military Spokesman said that all seven Security Force Headquarters across the country are round the clock launching search and clear operations, based on intelligence, largely provided by the public. All those suspects and warlike items, explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are taken into custody and handed over to the nearest Police stations under the Emergency Regulations.
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April - 29 
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 29 said it had arrested a 29-year-old resident of Palakkad in Kerala, allegedly planning a suicide attack in the state, reports The Hindu. In a statement, the NIA said it arrested Riyas A., who goes by the aliases RiyasAboobacker and Abu Dujana, as pa
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 29 said it had arrested a 29-year-old resident of Palakkad in Kerala, allegedly planning a suicide attack in the state, reports The Hindu. In a statement, the NIA said it arrested Riyas A., who goes by the aliases RiyasAboobacker and Abu Dujana, as part of its probe into the ‘ISIS Kasargod case’ filed in July 2016 after 15 young men from the district disappeared and later joined the Islamic State (IS), 14 in Afghanistan and one in Syria. It said he followed the videos and speeches of the mastermind of the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka, Zahran Hashim. “During interrogation, he disclosed that he had been in online contact with the absconding accused Abdul Rashid Abdulla, alias Abu Isa, for a long time and was following his audio clips, including the one he had circulated on social media platforms instigating terror attacks in India,” the NIA said. The terror accused said he was also in online contact with Abdul Khayoom, alias Abu Khalid, who is accused in the Valapattanam ISIS case and is believed to be in Syria, the NIA said. “He said he had been following speeches/videos of Zahran Hashim of Sri Lanka and Zakir Naik. He admitted that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala,” the NIA statement read. “During interrogation, he disclosed that he has been in online contact with the absconding accused Abdul Rashid Abdulla, alias Abu Isa, for a long time and has been following his audio clips, including the one he had circulated on social media platform instigating terror attacks in India,” the NIA said. The terror accused said he was also in online contact with Abdul Khayoom, alias Abu Khalid, who is accused in the “Valapattanam ISIS case” and is believed to be in Syria, the NIA said. “He said he has been following speeches/videos of Zahran Hashim of Sri Lanka and Zakir Naik. He admitted that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala,” the NIA statement read.
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April - 30 
Many Maldivian families residing in Sri Lanka have returned to the country due to the tense situation in Lanka following the terrorist attacks that took place on Easter, reports TheEdition on April 30.Approximately 13,000 Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka for educational, medical and other purposes.
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Many Maldivian families residing in Sri Lanka have returned to the country due to the tense situation in Lanka following the terrorist attacks that took place on Easter, reports TheEdition on April 30.Approximately 13,000 Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka for educational, medical and other purposes.
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May - 1 
Police have released the photographs and details of the suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on nine locations including three churches and four hotels in Colombo to the media, reports Colombo Page on May 1. However, the Police say DNA tests will be conducted to con
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Police have released the photographs and details of the suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on nine locations including three churches and four hotels in Colombo to the media, reports Colombo Page on May 1. However, the Police say DNA tests will be conducted to confirm their identity. The police have also arrested the wives and brothers of all the suspects.
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May - 1 
Several suspects have been arrested and hauls of explosives, firearms and bomb-making materials were recovered by the Army during the operations on May 1, reports Colombo Page.
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Several suspects have been arrested and hauls of explosives, firearms and bomb-making materials were recovered by the Army during the operations on May 1, reports Colombo Page.
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May - 2 
Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam on May 2 said thatat least one police officer will be deployed to each school in the country to ensure the protection of the children when schools recommence on May 06, reports The Island."Security officers have taken the responsibility to protect stude
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Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam on May 2 said thatat least one police officer will be deployed to each school in the country to ensure the protection of the children when schools recommence on May 06, reports The Island."Security officers have taken the responsibility to protect students and staff. At least one policeman will be deployed to protect each school. We have done everything possible to ensure the safety of schools and the principals have also been informed of safety precautions," Kariyawasam said.
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May - 2 
Sri Lanka's Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake admitting that the country suffered due to a gap in sharing of security information and intelligence urged the public to have confidence in the Armed Forces, reports Colombo Page on May 3. Sri Lanka Army suggested the country was target
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Sri Lanka's Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake admitting that the country suffered due to a gap in sharing of security information and intelligence urged the public to have confidence in the Armed Forces, reports Colombo Page on May 3. Sri Lanka Army suggested the country was targeted in the Easter Sunday bombings because it had neglected its security in the 10 years since the end of the civil war.Mahesh Senanayakefurther said, “They have gone to India, they've gone to Kashmir, Bangalore, they've travelled to Kerala state. Those are the information available with us”.
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May - 2 
The Civil Security Department,which serve as auxiliary to the Police, says the department plans to deploy 20,000 personnel to safeguard the country in the future, reports Colombo Page on May 3. The Department said the Civil Security Force personnel will be deployed for the security at public places,
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The Civil Security Department,which serve as auxiliary to the Police, says the department plans to deploy 20,000 personnel to safeguard the country in the future, reports Colombo Page on May 3. The Department said the Civil Security Force personnel will be deployed for the security at public places, including schools and religious places. The Civil Security Department has 35,000 trained personnel and about 4,000 of them are now deployed in the vicinity of the Colombo city.
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May - 2 
Two fatalities that were earlier attributed to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have now been identified to be carried out by National Thowheed Jamat (NTJ), reports The Island. Unidentified assailants had killed two police constables in the early hours of November 30, 2018, at Vavnativu in Ba
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Two fatalities that were earlier attributed to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have now been identified to be carried out by National Thowheed Jamat (NTJ), reports The Island. Unidentified assailants had killed two police constables in the early hours of November 30, 2018, at Vavnativu in Batticaloa District of Eastern Province. The details of the incident were revealed during the interrogation of Mohamed Sharif Adam Lebbe alias Gaffoor (53), a close associate of the Easter Sunday bombing mastermind. Gaffoor led the police to side arms issued to the slain police constables buried at Wanathavilluwa widely believed to be the main base of their operations.
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May - 5 
Sri Lanka's security authorities have been able to recover cash and assets worth more than LKR 7 billion belonging to The National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) following investigations conducted during the past few days, reports Colombo Page on May 6.
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Sri Lanka's security authorities have been able to recover cash and assets worth more than LKR 7 billion belonging to The National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) following investigations conducted during the past few days, reports Colombo Page on May 6.
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May - 6 
According to a report, a special group headed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)'s Muzzamil Bhat from Sialkot in Pakistan and his lackeys made forays into Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2007, knowing well that these areas could be used to further their agenda and to target India, repo
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According to a report, a special group headed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)'s Muzzamil Bhat from Sialkot in Pakistan and his lackeys made forays into Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2007, knowing well that these areas could be used to further their agenda and to target India, reports The New Indian Express on May 7. The Indian state had been following Islamic militancy in Sri Lanka since 2004.The tipping point in the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Sri-Lanka had LeT foot prints all over it. Muzzamil Bhat one of the planners of 26/11 and is reported to be the architect of the Chittisinghpora massacre. The entire construct of this planto use these countries as a launch pad to train terrorists was part of his larger architecture.The FBI in its 26/11 charge sheet named Bhat as D, a key LeT military commander, who was involved in the Chittisinghpora massacre in Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of President Bill Clinton's visit to India in March 2000. In its second chargesheet, filed in a Chicago court, the FBI named an ISI officer, Major Iqbal, and four LeT operatives - SajidMajeed, Abu Qahafa, Abu Alqama and the unknown Lashkar member 'D'. About 'D' the charge sheet states that after the arrest of Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhvi in Pakistan in connection with the 26/11 attacks, he became the overall operational commander of LeT. According to FBI, 'D', who is yet to be arrested by Pakistan, was a handler of David Coleman Headley. Headley told Indian investigators that Muzzamil was involved in the Chittisinghpora massacre. In turn, Headley also said Muzzamil was most trustworthy lieutenant of Lakhvi and apart from Chittisinghpora killings of Sikhs; he planned the Akshardham temple attack in September 2002.Bhat, on the other hand, is a planner and his understanding was that with Indian intelligence and security forces keeping a close vigil on southern India in those years, he reckoned that taking the training camps offshore would be a better idea. Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was already active in southern India, they had set up a southern chapter across the four states, while Bhatkal had become a new centrifuge.Muzzamil arrived in Sri Lanka and quickly realized that there was traction amongst Tamil Muslims after the Tsunami, and in Bangladesh among the Rohingyas between 2004-2008.But Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) which was extremely active in both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka did not allow Bhat or his henchmen to stabilize their operations. In 2011, ably abetted and assisted by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officer Amir Zubair Siddiqui (Counselor in the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo), a new name popped up on the radar - Zakir Hussain - who began to actively consort with and recruit Tamil Muslims on the island. The plan was to recruit them and attack diplomatic missions in Chennai and Bangalore, but RAW once again found the scent and pursued them to cut off their feed stock of financing, explosives and weapons.Once RAW had blown his cover, NIA moved in to charge sheet Siddiqui who was then visa counselor at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo. Siddiqui was arrested for allegedly conspiring to attack vital establishments in India and was quietly withdrawn before the NIA's request under Mutual Assistance Legal Treaty (MLAT) reached Colombo.The terror plot was uncovered after the NIA police personnel arrested an ISI agent Mohammed Zakir Hussain (37) through the 'Q' Branch of the Tamil Nadu police in 2013. The reason was that he was gathering details about vital installations in Tamil Nadu and sent photographs to Siddiqui. Hussain used his counterparts Sivabalan and Mohammad Salim to circulate Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in the state.During questioning, Hussain also confessed that he had also used Rafeeque (29) to pump in FICN in the state.A much larger network of Maldivians, Sri Lankan Muslims and Malaysian Tamils was discovered through this overarching probe.
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May - 6 
Chandana Wickramaratne, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), on May 6 said that all suspected plotters and those directly linked to Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings have either been arrested or are dead, reports Reuters. In an audio statement circulated by the defence ministry, Chandana W
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Chandana Wickramaratne, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), on May 6 said that all suspected plotters and those directly linked to Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings have either been arrested or are dead, reports Reuters. In an audio statement circulated by the defence ministry, Chandana Wickramaratne, the acting IGP, said security forces had also confiscated bomb-making material intended for future use by the militants involved in the attacks, which killed more than 250 people.
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May - 6 
Government on May 6 requested country's media institutions not to cover the search operations conducted by the security forces in houses and public places, as unwarranted media publicity has inconvenienced some communities, reports Colombo Page.
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Government on May 6 requested country's media institutions not to cover the search operations conducted by the security forces in houses and public places, as unwarranted media publicity has inconvenienced some communities, reports Colombo Page.
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May - 6 
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a Sri Lankan political front, Chairman Professor G. L. Peiris on May 6 called for a thorough inquiry into ‘a very serious lapse’ on the part of the law enforcement authorities that led to nine persons taken into custody in connection with the April 21 (Easter Sund
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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a Sri Lankan political front, Chairman Professor G. L. Peiris on May 6 called for a thorough inquiry into ‘a very serious lapse’ on the part of the law enforcement authorities that led to nine persons taken into custody in connection with the April 21 (Easter Sunday) bombings given bail, reports Island. Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage had granted bail to the acuused claimed the report. Prof. Peiris said that President Sirisena should inquire into the matter as nothing could be allowed to interfere in investigations.
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May - 6 
The Nuwara Eliya Police and Army yesterday (06) raided a training centre maintained by the National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) at Black Pool in Nuwara Eliya in Central province, reports Island. About 38 persons had been trained at this centre and Zahran Hashimi, who is considered the mastermind of the Eas
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The Nuwara Eliya Police and Army yesterday (06) raided a training centre maintained by the National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) at Black Pool in Nuwara Eliya in Central province, reports Island. About 38 persons had been trained at this centre and Zahran Hashimi, who is considered the mastermind of the Easter Sunday bombings, too had trained here. The last rehearsals of Easter Sunday (April 21) bombings were held at this centre on April 17 and was supervised by Zahran, preliminary inquiries have revealed.
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May - 6 
The Sri Lankan authorities have caught Kapila Hendawitharana, Director General of Military Intelligence, for allegedly acting as a Chinese mole and trying to obstruct a probe by foreign agencies into the Easter bombings, reportsThe Print.Hendawitharana was caught leaking crucial information to a Chi
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The Sri Lankan authorities have caught Kapila Hendawitharana, Director General of Military Intelligence, for allegedly acting as a Chinese mole and trying to obstruct a probe by foreign agencies into the Easter bombings, reportsThe Print.Hendawitharana was caught leaking crucial information to a Chinese intelligence official regarding the ongoing probe that is being carried out by foreign investigation agencies, particularly American, after the 21 April serial blasts, sources said.
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May - 7 
An Islamic State (IS) suspect with alleged links to RiyasAboobackeralias Abu Dujana,a member of IS’ Kasargod module in Kerala who was arrested last week and was deported from Doha on May 7 evening, an Intelligence Bureau official familiar with the development said, reports Hindustan Times on May 8.T
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An Islamic State (IS) suspect with alleged links to RiyasAboobackeralias Abu Dujana,a member of IS’ Kasargod module in Kerala who was arrested last week and was deported from Doha on May 7 evening, an Intelligence Bureau official familiar with the development said, reports Hindustan Times on May 8.The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took the custody of the man, identified as Faisal, as soon as he was brought to Delhi.The official said, Faisal, also a native of Kerala, had been in regular touch with Aboobacker, who was arrested last week. The latter was allegedly planning suicide attacks in Kerala after being inspired by the mastermind of Sri Lanka bombings, Maulvi Zahran Bin Hashim, leader of National TowheedJama’at (NTJ).Agencies suspect that IS members, including Aboobacker, Faisal, Abdulla (in Afghanistan) and others were planning something big in India as well.Members of Coimbatore module and Kasargod module of IS in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively, were either in touch with Sri Lanka attacks mastermind or followed his speeches.Zahran Hashim and another Sri Lanka bomber, Mohammad Azaan, had travelled to India in 2017 and 2018 to discuss the plans of Islamic State.The NIA has claimed Aboobacker followed speeches/videos of Zahran Hashim for more than a year and had also followed the speeches of Zakir Naik.“Riyas revealed that he was also having online chat with Abdul Khayoom alias Abu Khalid (suspect in the Valapattanam ISIS case) who was believed to be in Syria,” the NIA stated in a statement last week.
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May - 7 
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on May 7 briefed the diplomatic community about the progress of the operations carried out by the security forces to curb terrorist activities and the steps taken by the government to restore normalcy in the country swiftly, reports Colombo Page. Maithripala
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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on May 7 briefed the diplomatic community about the progress of the operations carried out by the security forces to curb terrorist activities and the steps taken by the government to restore normalcy in the country swiftly, reports Colombo Page. Maithripala Sirisena said that 95 percent of the terrorist suspects have been already arrested or accounted for and only two or three suspects are to be apprehended. Explaining the success of operations, he pointed out that Sri Lanka's intelligence experience gained during the 30-year-old conflict was useful to carry out anti-terrorism measures. Addressing all the Ambassadors and High Commissioners based in Sri Lanka, Resident representatives of United Nations and affiliated organizations and Head of other international agencies at the Presidential Secretariat, the President expressed appreciation to the international community for the cooperation and assistance provided to Sri Lanka at this time of need.
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May - 7 
Two of the Sri Lankan suicide bombers, Ilham Ahmed Mohammad Ebrahim and his older brother Inshaf Ahmed, who had led the fidayeen attacks in Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand Hotel which claimed 253 lives and injured more than 500 people, had travelled to Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi with
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Two of the Sri Lankan suicide bombers, Ilham Ahmed Mohammad Ebrahim and his older brother Inshaf Ahmed, who had led the fidayeen attacks in Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand Hotel which claimed 253 lives and injured more than 500 people, had travelled to Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi with valid passports on business in 2012, reports The New Indian Express on May 8. Indian investigating agencies have confirmed that two of them did, in fact, visit India in 2012 on business visas, but the duo did not receive any kind of training.Their father Mohammed Ibrahim, who was subsequently arrested, is a spice tycoon and his company Ishana Exports Pvt Ltd, based in Colombo, is listed in Trade India’s list of verified exporters offering quality spices and copper tubes, top sources in central intelligence agencies said.“Ishana has business interests in various cities from Kerala to Delhi. Seven years ago, Inshaf and Ilham had come on a business trip. They neither visited Kashmir nor did they participate in any training camp in India as has been alleged by the Sri Lankan army chief,” the source said.Highly placed sources have said that Sri Lanka has not yet shared any leads or information that link that attackers to India or their travel.Indian agencies have sought information from their counterparts in the island nation on the timeline and travel details of the terrorists to India along with their photographs. “Since the army chief has made a specific statement on the travel of some of the suicide bombers to India, they should be in possession of the information, which is critical for the security of the region. Sri Lanka has so far not provided any details. Hence, it (Senanayeke’s statement) remains in a realm of speculation,” said a highly placed source.
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May - 8 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on May 8, reports The Edition. According to a tweet by the Foreign Minister following the meeting, discussions took place on the cooperation regarding visa issues and counter terrorism measures. notabl
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on May 8, reports The Edition. According to a tweet by the Foreign Minister following the meeting, discussions took place on the cooperation regarding visa issues and counter terrorism measures. notably, the visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka has decided to implement stricter residence visa regulations. According to Sri Lanka, this decision was made as a safety measure following the recent terror attacks on April 21. Approximately 13,000 Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka for educational, medical and other purposes.
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May - 8 
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested a 26-year-old person named Mohammed Siphan, who had allegedly tried to bribe the OIC of the Horowpathana Police Station to secure the release of Moulavi Abdul Majeed Mohamed Niyaz, reports TheIsland. Law enforcement
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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested a 26-year-old person named Mohammed Siphan, who had allegedly tried to bribe the OIC of the Horowpathana Police Station to secure the release of Moulavi Abdul Majeed Mohamed Niyaz, reports TheIsland. Law enforcement sources said that the officers CIABOC had apprehended the suspect in the act of handing over LKR. 250,000 to Inspector Roshan Sanjeewa, in his office. Sources described the Moulavi as a close associate of Zahran Hashim, who died in a suicide attack on the Shangri-La Hotel, in, Colombo on April 21.
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May - 8 
United States (U.S.) officials on May 8 announced the death of an official injured in the April 21 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka in a Hospital in Singapore, reports Colombo Page. On May 4, 2019, Chelsea Decaminada, an International Program Specialist at U.S. Department of Commerce
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United States (U.S.) officials on May 8 announced the death of an official injured in the April 21 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka in a Hospital in Singapore, reports Colombo Page. On May 4, 2019, Chelsea Decaminada, an International Program Specialist at U.S. Department of Commerce passed away as a result of injuries sustained during the attacks in Sri Lanka, where she was on assignment, U.S. Department of Commerce announced in a media release.
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May - 9 
Central intelligence and security agencies which have been tasked to look for possible Islamic State (IS) modules in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the wake of the April 21 suicide bombings in Sri Lanka have identified over two dozen radical Islamic preachers in these two states who are spreading venom in
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Central intelligence and security agencies which have been tasked to look for possible Islamic State (IS) modules in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the wake of the April 21 suicide bombings in Sri Lanka have identified over two dozen radical Islamic preachers in these two states who are spreading venom in the name of religion and their speeches and motivating young people to join the jihad or holy war, two top counterterrorism officials said, reports Hindustan times on May 10. There are 25-26 Islamic preachers who regularly give provocative lectures on religious fundamentalism, hand out jihadi literature, belittle other religions in their speeches and encourage young Muslims to propagate the Sharia law.Somego far enough to support the activities of global terror outfits like Al-Qaeda (AQ) and IS.
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May - 9 
State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene on May 9 said the Government would hold an investigation to find out how son of Eastern Province Governor Mahamood Lebbe Alim Mohamed Hisbullah had secured shares amounting to LKR 500 million rupees in the proposed Sharia University of Batticaloa, reports
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State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene on May 9 said the Government would hold an investigation to find out how son of Eastern Province Governor Mahamood Lebbe Alim Mohamed Hisbullah had secured shares amounting to LKR 500 million rupees in the proposed Sharia University of Batticaloa, reports Colombo Page. He also said that the University will come under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education. The University is a gift from Saudi Arabia.
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May - 10 
A Sri Lankan court has ordered a DNA test before May 15 to verify the death of Zahran Hashim, the ring leader of National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ), reports NDTV on May 11. The Colombo Fort Magistrate also ordered the DNA verification of Ibrahim, the second bomber. The test will be performed before May
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A Sri Lankan court has ordered a DNA test before May 15 to verify the death of Zahran Hashim, the ring leader of National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ), reports NDTV on May 11. The Colombo Fort Magistrate also ordered the DNA verification of Ibrahim, the second bomber. The test will be performed before May 15, according to the magisterial order. The court has also ordered Government Analyst's reports on seven vehicles believed to have been used by the Islamic State (IS) linked group to carry out the attacks. Over 100 people are already in custody in connection with the bombings.
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May - 10 
On May 10, Sri Lanka’s Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake stated that threat of more Islamist militant attacks had been contained and the security services had dismantled most of the network linked to the Easter Sunday bombings. He stated that ‘Up to now the investigations do not go
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On May 10, Sri Lanka’s Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake stated that threat of more Islamist militant attacks had been contained and the security services had dismantled most of the network linked to the Easter Sunday bombings. He stated that ‘Up to now the investigations do not go beyond many areas, so we don’t have to worry about the situation; it is controllable, it is contained. ’He also added that the investigators had established that the plotters had links to Islamic State, but said the authorities were still trying to establish how deep those contacts were. Sri Lankan authorities have said the bombings were believed to have been carried out by two little-known domestic Islamist groups, the National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI). Islamic State has claimed responsibility. The Commander stated that ‘Definitely there is an Islamic State (IS) link. That doesn’t mean it was a direct IS hit. But we are trying to establish how deep it is in order to plan our (military) operations’. Investigators from eight countries, including the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol, are helping Sri Lanka with the investigation. According to him, India, China, United States, Israel, Australia and the United Arab Emirates were looking to provide high grade military technology, including communication and surveillance equipment, to deal with future threats. He further stated that Senanayake said the bombers had mostly used local explosives but may have also sourced some from southern India, likely Tamil Nadu.
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May - 11 
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested, Mohamed Aliyar (60), a Saudi-educated scholar for alleged links with Zahran Hashim, the main suspect of the Easter Sunday bombings, reports The Hindu on May 12. The arrested scholar is the founder of the Centre for Islamic Guidance (CIG), which has a mosque, a
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Sri Lankan authorities have arrested, Mohamed Aliyar (60), a Saudi-educated scholar for alleged links with Zahran Hashim, the main suspect of the Easter Sunday bombings, reports The Hindu on May 12. The arrested scholar is the founder of the Centre for Islamic Guidance (CIG), which has a mosque, a religious school and a library in Kattankudy, a Muslim-dominated town in Batticaloa District in Eastern Province.
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May - 11 
The suspect who was initially taken into custody after the killing of two Police personnel at the Vavunathivu Police checkpoint on November 30, 2018, has been released after producing him to the Magistrate Courts in BatticaloaI the Eastern Province on May11, reports Colombo Page. Details of the kill
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The suspect who was initially taken into custody after the killing of two Police personnel at the Vavunathivu Police checkpoint on November 30, 2018, has been released after producing him to the Magistrate Courts in BatticaloaI the Eastern Province on May11, reports Colombo Page. Details of the killing has been revealed after the arrests of suspects of Muslim terrorist group that carried out the Easter Sunday bombings
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May - 12 
Mob on May 12 targeted a mosque and few shops owned by Muslims located at Chilaw in Puttalam District of North Western Province after a dispute that started in a social media post, reports Indian Express. The Sri Lankan Police on May 12 imposed curfew with immediate effect in the country’s Christian
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Mob on May 12 targeted a mosque and few shops owned by Muslims located at Chilaw in Puttalam District of North Western Province after a dispute that started in a social media post, reports Indian Express. The Sri Lankan Police on May 12 imposed curfew with immediate effect in the country’s Christian dominated town after the incident. Several dozen people threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned stores and a man was beaten in a dispute that started on Facebook. Sri Lankan authorities havetemporarily blocked some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
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May - 13 
Mobs armed with sticks attacked a Muslim-owned hotel and a mosque in Minuwangoda town indicating a spillover of anti-Muslim violence, reports The Hindu.
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Mobs armed with sticks attacked a Muslim-owned hotel and a mosque in Minuwangoda town indicating a spillover of anti-Muslim violence, reports The Hindu.
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May - 13 
Mobs attacked and killed an unidentified muslim manat his carpentry workshop in Puttalam district, reports The Hindu. The incident happened despite a nationwide curfew imposed on May 13 night after anti-Muslim riots spread to three districts.Police said there were sporadic incidents of mobs throwing
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Mobs attacked and killed an unidentified muslim manat his carpentry workshop in Puttalam district, reports The Hindu. The incident happened despite a nationwide curfew imposed on May 13 night after anti-Muslim riots spread to three districts.Police said there were sporadic incidents of mobs throwing stones and torching shops, motorcycles and cars owned by Muslims. Mobs set ablaze at least three shops in Hettipola town. Following the riots, a nationwide curfew was announced on May 13 adds Colombo Page. Sri Lankan authorities have temporarily curbed the use of social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
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May - 13 
Out of the 600 foreigners including 200 hardcore maulvis (Muslim religious preachers) deported by Colombo over the last week after the suicide bombings there, over a 100 were Indians, reports The Pioneer on May 13. They, along with those from Pakistan and Maldives, were suspected to be engaged in ra
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Out of the 600 foreigners including 200 hardcore maulvis (Muslim religious preachers) deported by Colombo over the last week after the suicide bombings there, over a 100 were Indians, reports The Pioneer on May 13. They, along with those from Pakistan and Maldives, were suspected to be engaged in radicalisation in the Sri Lankan mosques. Sri Lankan authorities have identified about 1,200 such individuals who are being screened for terror links and depending upon antecedent verification more such clerics are likely to be deported to the respective countries. Besides the Indians, clerics from Pakistan and Maldives have also been deported in large numbers owing to their terror links that emerged after serial suicide bombings in Colombo on Sunday Easter last month that took a toll of over 250 persons including 11 Indians. Besides the 200 maulvis, the 400 other individuals are also suspected to have travelled on tourist visas but have been essentially been engaged in radical preachings, sources said. The revelation of the Indian maulvis in radicalisation activities in the island nation has set alarm bells ringing in the security establishment here as they apprehend the international terror groups might have developed a hub of such transnational radical preachers in the country. The deportations began on May 14 after the Sri Lankan authorities informed the respective foreign missions on the issue. By May 16, the 600 such radicals were deported to the respective countries. Pakistani clerics have infiltrated the mosques in the region including in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Maldives and even in some of the ASEAN countries. These clerics are being exploited by the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for the larger design of implementing state agenda of sponsoring terror in the neighborhood, sources said.
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May - 13 
Security Forces on May 13 arrested nearly 40 terror suspects, mostly residents of Kaththankudi inBatticaloa District of Eastern province, reports Sri Lanka Mirror. Two businessmen linked to the Islamic State have been arrested in Bibile in Monaragala District of Uva Province. There were 60 Islamic t
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Security Forces on May 13 arrested nearly 40 terror suspects, mostly residents of Kaththankudi inBatticaloa District of Eastern province, reports Sri Lanka Mirror. Two businessmen linked to the Islamic State have been arrested in Bibile in Monaragala District of Uva Province. There were 60 Islamic terror suspect names in the laptop recovered at Training Center in Nuwara Eliya of Central province after the April 21 bombings.
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May - 14 
A 45-year-old individual died of stab wounds in Kurunegala District in North Western Province of Sri Lanka, reports The Hindu on May 14. On the same day, Police arrested dozens and remanded nearly 30 persons in connection with anti-Muslim attacks in at least three Districts. According to Police Spok
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A 45-year-old individual died of stab wounds in Kurunegala District in North Western Province of Sri Lanka, reports The Hindu on May 14. On the same day, Police arrested dozens and remanded nearly 30 persons in connection with anti-Muslim attacks in at least three Districts. According to Police Spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara, Amith Weerasinghe of MahasonBalakaya, a Sinhala-Buddhist group; and Namal Kumara, a self-declared anti-corruption activist were arrested in connection with the violence. Newsin Asia further adds that security experts described the anti-Muslim violence as being “serious” especially because violence had taking place while the curfew was on. Many Muslim houses, business premises and vehicles were vandalized. Violence against Muslims houses and businesses began in Negombo, a Christian area, north of Colombo.
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May - 14 
At least three Islamic State (IS) suspects arrested in India in 2015 and 2017 were in contact with an online entity called Aadhil AX from Sri Lanka who could be software engineer Aadhil Ameez, arrested last month in Colombo for providing technical and logistical support to the bombers in the April 2
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At least three Islamic State (IS) suspects arrested in India in 2015 and 2017 were in contact with an online entity called Aadhil AX from Sri Lanka who could be software engineer Aadhil Ameez, arrested last month in Colombo for providing technical and logistical support to the bombers in the April 21 Easter terror attack, reports The Hindu on May 15. Aadhil was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with IS suspects. Two IS suspects, Ubed Mirza and Kasim Stimberwala, arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2017 were allegedly in touch with Aadhil through WhatsApp. Both Stimberwala and Ubed are in judicial custody in Surat and have been charge sheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which accused them of plotting a lone wolf attack in Ahmedabad. Ubed is a lawyer while Stimberwala is a medical technician and both were arrested by Gujarat’s ATS. As per the charge sheet filed by the NIA, Ubed, in 2017, had a WhatsApp chat with one Aadhil but ATS officials said did not find any other actionable intelligence. “Except a few chats on social media, no other material or connection or link has been found,” said a Gujarat police official said. A source said another IS suspect, Mohammad Naser, deported from Sudan in 2015 was also in online contact with Aadhil AX from Sri Lanka. It is not clear if the Indian authorities shared the information with the Sri Lankan authorities.
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May - 14 
NDTV on May 14 reports that one of the suicide bombers who attempted to bomb the luxury Taj Samudra hotel in Sri Lanka capital Colombo, was radicalised by British-Pakistani radical preacher Anjem Choudary while he was studying at a University in London. Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel who was from a we
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NDTV on May 14 reports that one of the suicide bombers who attempted to bomb the luxury Taj Samudra hotel in Sri Lanka capital Colombo, was radicalised by British-Pakistani radical preacher Anjem Choudary while he was studying at a University in London. Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel who was from a wealthy family involved in the tea trade, reportedly met the radical preacher while studying at Kingston University. According to a security official, He (Jameel) was completely radicalised and supported the extremist ideology. I tried to reason with him. When I asked him how he got into this... he said that he attended the sermons of the radical British preacher Anjem Choudary in London. He said he met him during the sermons”. Anjem Choudary is considered one of the UK's most influential and dangerous radical preachers. He was convicted and jailed in 2016 for inviting support for Islamic State (IS) but was released in 2018.
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May - 14 
Sri Lanka Government on May 14 banned three Islamic radical organizations suspected to be involved in the Easter Sunday bombings, reports NewsIn Asia. The banned organisations are National Tawheed Jamaat (TMJ), JammateiMillathuIbraheem (JMI) and Willayat As Seylani (WAS). According to experts, these
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Sri Lanka Government on May 14 banned three Islamic radical organizations suspected to be involved in the Easter Sunday bombings, reports NewsIn Asia. The banned organisations are National Tawheed Jamaat (TMJ), JammateiMillathuIbraheem (JMI) and Willayat As Seylani (WAS). According to experts, these are inter-connected organizations. They were led by Zahran Hashim, who was one of the suicide bombers. Additionally, to tackle threat of terrorism, President Maithripala Sirisena is slated to sign two agreements with China, one to get command and communication equipment and the other to get technology to defuse explosive ordnance, reports Newsin Asia. The agreements are to be inked during Sirisena’s visit to China from May 14-16.
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May - 15 
Army on May 15 stated that it is investigating a video clip circulating in social media that showed a person dressed in a uniform similar to that of the military was watching while a group of violent saboteurs were in action in Thunmodara of Western province, reports Colombo Page.
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Army on May 15 stated that it is investigating a video clip circulating in social media that showed a person dressed in a uniform similar to that of the military was watching while a group of violent saboteurs were in action in Thunmodara of Western province, reports Colombo Page.
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May - 15 
The countrywide curfew in the morning of May 15was lifted, reports Colombo Page. The curfew was removed at 6 am in the Northwestern Province and Gampaha Police division; while the curfew in the other areas of the island ended at 4 am, Police media spokesman's office stated. The Wayamba Province Gove
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The countrywide curfew in the morning of May 15was lifted, reports Colombo Page. The curfew was removed at 6 am in the Northwestern Province and Gampaha Police division; while the curfew in the other areas of the island ended at 4 am, Police media spokesman's office stated. The Wayamba Province Governor Peshala Jayaratne said the academic activities of all schools in the Northwestern Province will be resumed today (May 15). He said all the state institutions in the province will also resume work from today. The curfew was imposed by the Police at 9 pm on May 14 due to communal violence.
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May - 17 
The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Education of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe on May 17 said that the committee will submit its report on the controversial Sharia University early next month, reports Colombo Page. The priv
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The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Education of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe on May 17 said that the committee will submit its report on the controversial Sharia University early next month, reports Colombo Page. The private university, being built at a cost of LKR 1,500 million, came under the scanner following the April 21 suicide attacks by the extremist Islamic Group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ).
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May - 21 
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), "government-in-exile" body has challenged United Kingdom's proscription order, imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2001, on the grounds that the outfit is no longer active and that it is inhibiting other non-violent politic
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The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), "government-in-exile" body has challenged United Kingdom's proscription order, imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2001, on the grounds that the outfit is no longer active and that it is inhibiting other non-violent political activities of Sri Lankan Tamils, reports Business Standard on May 22. TGTE had challenged the proscription in a petition to the UK Home Office but its plea to reverse the ban on the LTTE was turned down earlier this year. "In its petition to the Home Secretary, the TGTE members argued that the ban on the LTTE is misperceived as a ban on advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam, and as a result it has a chilling effect in the people's participation of the TGTE's political work towards that goal, noted a statement from Matrix Chambers, the barristers' chambers behind the challenge.
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May - 21 April - 21
Police Spokesperson Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruwan Gunasekera said that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples obtained from Muhammad Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday bombings (April 21, 2019), matched with his daughter’s, reports Island on May 21. Earlier there were rumours tha
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Police Spokesperson Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruwan Gunasekera said that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples obtained from Muhammad Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday bombings (April 21, 2019), matched with his daughter’s, reports Island on May 21. Earlier there were rumours that the body found at the Shangri La hotel Colombo wasn’t his. SP Gunasekera said that the Government analyst had on May 20 released the DNA reports on all suicide bombers who had carried out the bombings and their relatives.
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May - 22 
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on May 22 took up terror strikes at Pulwama and Sri Lanka and urged member nations of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for greater counter-terror cooperation, reports The Hindu. Addressing the ministerial meet of SCO at Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, the Ext
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on May 22 took up terror strikes at Pulwama and Sri Lanka and urged member nations of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for greater counter-terror cooperation, reports The Hindu. Addressing the ministerial meet of SCO at Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, the External Affairs Minister said that India remains committed to regional connectivity and peace in Afghanistan. “Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighborhood has made us more determined to fight firmly [and] resolutely against this menace,” said Ms. Swaraj addressing a gathering which included her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Ms. Swaraj said that India is open to strengthen the Regional Anti-Terror Structure or RATS of SCO to fight terrorism and security challenges in the region. Taking up the situation in Afghanistan, the Minister said that India wants Afghanistan to be “united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant”. “I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group,” said Ms. Swaraj in her speech.
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May - 23 
Sri Lanka Parliament passed the motion to extend the Emergency Regulations imposed after the Easter Sunday attacks by another month, reports Colombo Page. Eight Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament opposed the extension.
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Sri Lanka Parliament passed the motion to extend the Emergency Regulations imposed after the Easter Sunday attacks by another month, reports Colombo Page. Eight Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament opposed the extension.
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May - 23 
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has granted a presidential pardon to the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation, general secretary, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero who is serving a six-year jail sentence for contempt of court, reports Colombo Page.
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Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has granted a presidential pardon to the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation, general secretary, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero who is serving a six-year jail sentence for contempt of court, reports Colombo Page.
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May - 23 April - 21
A Sri Lankan national, Abdul Salam Irshad Mohmood (39), suspected to be linked to the April 21 serial bombings was arrested in Myanmar at an immigration office in Yangon on May 23, reports Colombo Page. Irrawaddy reports that the suspect arrived in Yangon on a tourist visa in January 2018.
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A Sri Lankan national, Abdul Salam Irshad Mohmood (39), suspected to be linked to the April 21 serial bombings was arrested in Myanmar at an immigration office in Yangon on May 23, reports Colombo Page. Irrawaddy reports that the suspect arrived in Yangon on a tourist visa in January 2018.
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May - 29 
Defense Secretary General (retd) Shantha Kottegoda submitted before the eight-member Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that intelligence services in the country were not weakened, reports Colombo Page. PSC had met for the first times since it was appointed to inquire into the terrorist attacks on
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Defense Secretary General (retd) Shantha Kottegoda submitted before the eight-member Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that intelligence services in the country were not weakened, reports Colombo Page. PSC had met for the first times since it was appointed to inquire into the terrorist attacks on April 21.
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May - 31 
Parliamentarian Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thero on May 31 commenced a fast-unto-death campaign outside the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple in Kandy calling for the removal of some Muslim politicians, reports Colombo Page. The Thero demands the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor
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Parliamentarian Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thero on May 31 commenced a fast-unto-death campaign outside the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple in Kandy calling for the removal of some Muslim politicians, reports Colombo Page. The Thero demands the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hizbullah and Western Province Governor Azath Sally from their posts.
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June - 3 
All Muslim Ministers including Cabinet, State and Deputy Ministers in the Government on June 3 decided to resign from their Ministerial portfolios citing the Government's failure to ensure the safety of Muslims following Easter Sunday attacks, reports Colombo Page. Minister of Highways & Road Develo
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All Muslim Ministers including Cabinet, State and Deputy Ministers in the Government on June 3 decided to resign from their Ministerial portfolios citing the Government's failure to ensure the safety of Muslims following Easter Sunday attacks, reports Colombo Page. Minister of Highways & Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development Kabir Hashim announced the decision after a news conference at Temple Trees. Accordingly, Cabinet Ministers RishadBathiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Kabir Hashim, AHM Haleem and five Deputy Ministers including Deputy Ministers Ali Shahir Moulana and AHM Fowzie have decided to resign from their posts. Minister Kabir Hashim stated that the Ministers decided to resign from their posts so as not to impede the ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. He also urged the authorities to investigate the allegations against his team. After resigning from the portfolios, the Ministers have decided to stay in the Government as backbenchers in the Parliament.
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June - 4 
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys based in Sri Lanka have cautioned, the Government that Communal violence targeting Muslims in the country has regional and global security implications and further urged the Government to take “every measure necessary” to prevent such incidents, r
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The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys based in Sri Lanka have cautioned, the Government that Communal violence targeting Muslims in the country has regional and global security implications and further urged the Government to take “every measure necessary” to prevent such incidents, reports The Hindu on June 4. “The developing situation over the past few days has been extremely worrying with regards to the safety and protection of the Sri Lankan Muslim community, including some foreign Muslim refugees. The lives and livelihoods of Muslims, including their local stores and large business establishments, are threatened by the prevailing conditions with unforeseen, dangerous consequences,” they said in a joint statement on June 4.
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June - 7 
President Maithripala Sirisena stressed that he does not approve the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday bombings summoning intelligence officers and disclosing intelligence information to the media, reports Colombo Page on June 7. The President also noting that so far the
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President Maithripala Sirisena stressed that he does not approve the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday bombings summoning intelligence officers and disclosing intelligence information to the media, reports Colombo Page on June 7. The President also noting that so far the witnesses summoned to the PSC were officers who were removed from the service, said no official of the Security Forces currently in service will be presented to the Select Committee and he will accept the responsibility for all of them.
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June - 16 
Police Headquarters has received 27 complaints against former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Former Governor of the Western Province Azath Salley and Former Governor of the Eastern Province MLAM Hizbullah since May 27, reports Colombo Page. Among the complaints the committee received, 12 complaints wer
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Police Headquarters has received 27 complaints against former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Former Governor of the Western Province Azath Salley and Former Governor of the Eastern Province MLAM Hizbullah since May 27, reports Colombo Page. Among the complaints the committee received, 12 complaints were against MP Rishad Bathiudeen, five against former Governor Azath Salley and two against MLAM Hizbullah. The Police Headquarters has set up a committee comprising a Senior Superintendent of Police and two Superintendents of Police to receive complaints against the three Muslim politicians.
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June - 16 
Saudi Arabia extradited five suspects including National Thowheed Jama'ath (NTJ) member Ahamed Milhan Hayathu Mohamed (29), linked to the April 21 Easter bombings to Sri Lanka on June 14, reports Colombo Page on June 16. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) said that its Red Not
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Saudi Arabia extradited five suspects including National Thowheed Jama'ath (NTJ) member Ahamed Milhan Hayathu Mohamed (29), linked to the April 21 Easter bombings to Sri Lanka on June 14, reports Colombo Page on June 16. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) said that its Red Notice has helped the arrest of Sri Lanka bombing suspect Milhan and four others in Jeddah.
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July - 10 
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed parliament on July 10 that 161 suspects were in police custody while another 167 suspects were in remand custody in connection with the Easter Sunday attack, reports Daily Mirror. 99 persons had also been arrested on suspicion over the attack waiting to b
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed parliament on July 10 that 161 suspects were in police custody while another 167 suspects were in remand custody in connection with the Easter Sunday attack, reports Daily Mirror. 99 persons had also been arrested on suspicion over the attack waiting to be produced in court on the advice of the Attorney General Dappula de Livera after completion of the investigations. Premier said 39 suspects were produced in court in relation to the incidents of Kuliyapitiya and Hettipola areas of North Western province where mobs attacked several mosques and torched dozens of Muslim-owned shops and homes.
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July - 11 
Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy said that two designated State Banks may provide relief to the tune of LKR 100 billion to hotels and other institutions affected by the Easter Sunday blasts, in the form of a one-year moratorium, to help in reviving the tourism industry, subject to Ce
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Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy said that two designated State Banks may provide relief to the tune of LKR 100 billion to hotels and other institutions affected by the Easter Sunday blasts, in the form of a one-year moratorium, to help in reviving the tourism industry, subject to Central Bank regulations, reports Island. "At present there have been 3,641 requests to banks for a moratorium. The amount considered for the moratorium is LKR 101 billion and so far 945 requests have been approved and 2,696 are under process of approval, the Governor said at the CBSL's monthly monetary policy review press briefing held at Central Bank auditorium on July 11.
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July - 22 
A Ministry of Finance report submitted to the Parliament on July 22 revealed that the Easter Sunday serial bomb attacks (April 21) had caused a revenue loss of LKR 50 billion, reports Island. The report states, “The Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2019 submitted to the House revealed that an initial
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A Ministry of Finance report submitted to the Parliament on July 22 revealed that the Easter Sunday serial bomb attacks (April 21) had caused a revenue loss of LKR 50 billion, reports Island. The report states, “The Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2019 submitted to the House revealed that an initial estimate on the impact of the Easter Sunday attacks on the government revenue in the short term indicates that the direct contribution to the government revenue by affected sectors such as finance, tourism, trade and construction, will come down by Rs [LKR] 50 billion approximately."
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September - 3 
On September 3, Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) informed the Supreme Court that director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had forwarded no less than 97 intelligence reports to IGP Pujith Jayasundara from 2016 onwards regarding the National Thowheed Jamath Organization (NTJ) and its leader
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On September 3, Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) informed the Supreme Court that director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had forwarded no less than 97 intelligence reports to IGP Pujith Jayasundara from 2016 onwards regarding the National Thowheed Jamath Organization (NTJ) and its leader Saharan Hashim, reports Daily News. Appearing for the BASL, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena further stated that SIS director also had forwarded 17 intelligence reports to then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando in 2018 and 2019 over imminent terrorist attacks. All these information was disclosed when the seven-judge Supreme Court bench on September 04will be hearing the 12 fundamental rights petitions filed against former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundera over their failure to prevent the terrorist attacks on churches and star class hotels in Colombo and Batticaloa areas, despite receiving intelligence reports prior to the attacks.
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September - 5 
In a press conference on September 5, Police Media spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara has stated that approximately 300 people were arrested in connection with April 21 Easter Sunday attack, reports Colombo Page. Among the 293 people arrested, as reported in Daily Mirror,115 suspects were remanded while
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In a press conference on September 5, Police Media spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara has stated that approximately 300 people were arrested in connection with April 21 Easter Sunday attack, reports Colombo Page. Among the 293 people arrested, as reported in Daily Mirror,115 suspects were remanded while 178 others are still in detention. Gunasekara further said that the statements of the surviving 81 victims injured in National ThowheedJammath (NTJ) executed bombings in St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade have also been recorded. Gunasekara also stated that assets such as lands, buildings, vehicles and other movable properties worth more than INR six billion were recovered from the suspects. As reported in Daily Mirror, a sum of more than Rs.134 million in hundred bank accounts of 41 suspects had along with INR 20 million worth of money has been recovered by the CID.
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October - 17 
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), an election watchdog in Sri Lanka has requested the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Security Forces to investigate the emerging false rumour mongering groups related to national security, reports Colombo Page on October 18. CaFFE stated that
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Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), an election watchdog in Sri Lanka has requested the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Security Forces to investigate the emerging false rumour mongering groups related to national security, reports Colombo Page on October 18. CaFFE stated that on October 16 rumours regarding bomb blasts emerged at three separate places causing a threat to national security. According to Police spokesman, SP Ruwan Gunasekara till date 5000 rumours disrupting national security has been in circulation.
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October - 17 
The deputy chairman of the Walallawita Pradeshiya Sabha, a member of the Panduwasnuwara Pradeshiya Sabha and a former chairman of the Pelmadulla Pradeshiya Sabha were the three Pradeshiya Sabha members (PS) who along with eight suspects were arrested in connection with election related complaints an
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The deputy chairman of the Walallawita Pradeshiya Sabha, a member of the Panduwasnuwara Pradeshiya Sabha and a former chairman of the Pelmadulla Pradeshiya Sabha were the three Pradeshiya Sabha members (PS) who along with eight suspects were arrested in connection with election related complaints and election related violations since the Presidential Election was announced, reports Colombo Page on October 18. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated 10 election violence complaints have been lodged with police and 14 election violations have so far been reported from various parts of the country.
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October - 17 
The Election Commission (EC) has received a total of 851 complaints in between October 8 and October 17 regarding the election law violations and violent activities, reports Daily Mirror on October 18. Eight violent activities had been reported to the National Election Complaint Management Centre an
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The Election Commission (EC) has received a total of 851 complaints in between October 8 and October 17 regarding the election law violations and violent activities, reports Daily Mirror on October 18. Eight violent activities had been reported to the National Election Complaint Management Centre and District Election Complaint Management Centres while 814 election law violations were reported to the respective centres. 29 other cases had also been reported. The cases were registered in the complaint offices established by EC in collaboration with the Police at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya and all district offices.
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October - 23 
On October 23, the final report of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Easter Sunday Attack was presented in the Parliament, reports Colombo Page. The 272-page report submitted in three languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English has been made online for public display. Through the report, PSC ha
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On October 23, the final report of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Easter Sunday Attack was presented in the Parliament, reports Colombo Page. The 272-page report submitted in three languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English has been made online for public display. Through the report, PSC has blamed the State Intelligence Service (SIS) for its failure in preventing the Easter Attack. The report, as highlighted in Daily Mirror, has also named the President, the Prime Minister and the State Minister of Defence as ‘culpable’ persons who can be blamed for the tragedy to some extent. PSC chairman and present Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri stated that PSC in its report has made eight recommendations that includes taking action to ban Wahabism in Sri Lanka, reorganising the defence sectors including the intelligence services, setting up of financial investigation unit, Reorganising the Attorney General’s Department and the Judiciary, monitoring media in order to stop publishing of false reports, change the education system to avoid teaching of extremism.
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November - 7 
The Election Commission (EC) stated that it has received 3,214 complaints of election law violations from the 8th of October to the 7th of November, reports Colombo Page on November 8. EC further stated that among 3,214 complaints, 3,087 were election law violations whereas 25 were incidents of viol
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The Election Commission (EC) stated that it has received 3,214 complaints of election law violations from the 8th of October to the 7th of November, reports Colombo Page on November 8. EC further stated that among 3,214 complaints, 3,087 were election law violations whereas 25 were incidents of violence. The National Election Complaints Center has received 964 complaints and 7 of them are incidents of violence. The District Election Complaints Centers has received 2250 complaints and 18 of them are incidents of violence.
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November - 12 
Till November 12, the Election Commission (EC) has so far received 3,729 election law violation complaints, reports Colombo Page on November 13. EC states that among the complaints, 3596 were related to election law violations while other 27 were related to incidents of violence. SATP previously rep
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Till November 12, the Election Commission (EC) has so far received 3,729 election law violation complaints, reports Colombo Page on November 13. EC states that among the complaints, 3596 were related to election law violations while other 27 were related to incidents of violence. SATP previously reported that till November 7, 3,214 complaints of election law violations were received by EC.
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November - 16 
The seventh Executive Presidential election polls started off at morning seven on November 16 (Today), reports Colombo Page. Nearly 16 million voters are estimated to cast their votes 12,845 polling stations throughout the country until 5:00 pm. The counting of votes will take place in 1,355 counti
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The seventh Executive Presidential election polls started off at morning seven on November 16 (Today), reports Colombo Page. Nearly 16 million voters are estimated to cast their votes 12,845 polling stations throughout the country until 5:00 pm. The counting of votes will take place in 1,355 counting centers. Postal votes will be counted after 5.00 pm and the counting of other votes will commence at 6.00 pm. Final results are expected as early as November 17. This election is special as large number of candidates i.e. 35 candidates will be vying for the top executive post. And due this, this election will foresee largest number of polling stations and the longest ballot paper. Special police protection has been provided around the polling stations while a large number of local and foreign election observer teams are working together to ensure a free and fair presidential election. According to Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), 153 foreign election observers and over 11,000 local observers have been deployed in different parts of the country to observe the seventh Executive Presidential election.
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