Category: Local News

Two main suspects wanted in connection with the Easter Day attack have been arrested at Nawalapitya area, stated the Police.

Police say three suspects wanted in connection to the murders of two Policemen in Vavunathivu last year are also among the suspects arrested in connection to the Easter Sunday attacks.

While monitoring the usual channels, Indian police stumbled upon something extraordinary: a detailed plot for what would become the bloodiest attack linked to the Islamic State group in South Asia.

The National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) and Jamathei Milathu Ibrahim (JMI) organizations have been banned in Sri Lanka under Emergency Regulations No.01 2019 by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Police said that, Mohammed Sareef Lebbe alias Gaffoor who is considered to have been the driver of Zaharan who carried out the suicide bomb attacks recently, has been taken into custody in Kattankudy.

The Deputy Mayor of Negombo, Mohamed Ansar, has been arrested for the pssesion of a sword, a dagger and 37 mobile phone batteries, Police said.

Police have recovered 49 knives from the premises of a mosque in the Maskeliya area during a search operation carried out this morning.

The police curfew will be imposed across the island from 10.00 pm tonight to 4.00 am tomorrow, the government announced today.

According to the Navy Media Spokesperson, a suspect was arrested in the Erakkandi area in Trincomalee along with a number of explosives.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday called for the banning of Madarasa Islamic Schools in Sri Lanka saying the children are taught extremism in those institutions.

Colombo Municipal Councillor Nurdeen Mohammad Tajudeen has been arrested by the Police in connection to the discovery of 46 swords from the Slave Island area yesterday (26).

A total of 15 bodies including women children have been recovered from the site of explosions at Sainthamaruthu, Kalmunai.

While rejecting allegations levelled against him, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday vouched that neither Mujibur Rahman nor Azath Salley had any involvement in extremist terror outfits but said he can’t keep track of daily activities of each and everyone he interacts with.

The JVP yesterday said that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at least now should act together to give the political leadership to restore the country’s security.

Sri Lanka’s former wartime defense chief, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said on Friday he would run for president in elections this year and would stop the spread of Islamist extremism by rebuilding the intelligence service and surveilling citizens.

The U.S. State Department has issued a heightened travel warning for Sri Lanka after last Sunday’s suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.