{"id":89145,"date":"2019-05-21T21:37:44","date_gmt":"2019-05-22T03:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=89145"},"modified":"2019-05-28T14:46:39","modified_gmt":"2019-05-28T21:46:39","slug":"one-month-since-easter-sunday-attacks-21-april-21-may-in-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/05\/21\/one-month-since-easter-sunday-attacks-21-april-21-may-in-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"One Month since Easter Sunday attacks 21 April \u2013 21 May in Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"309\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gone-but-never-forgotten.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89146\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On 21<sup>st<\/sup> April 2019 what was to be a special day for Catholics\/Christians ended up a day of tragedy. We are still to know the exact number of death but we do know that 9 Islamic radicals thought of ending lives of innocent people in 3 churches and 3 hotels and had taken months to prepare for the killing. What we also know is that from 4<sup>th<\/sup> April Indian intelligence had sent warnings with venues, dates and even names of the assassins to Sri Lankan authorities and none of these warnings had reached the Cardinal to stop Sunday mass or the hotels to beef up security. The Government however took own precautions and decided not to attend church! There is much that the Government must answer for and simply handing Rs.1lakh as compensation cannot wipe the blood of accountability. Can we trust a government that is responsible for such negligence especially when politicians linked to these terrorists have no action taken against them primarily because of the handouts they would have been enjoying. The country was freed of 30 years of terrorism from the blood sacrifices of close to 30,000 soldiers while another similar number remain injured for life. It was the lack of political will to end LTTE that resulted in Sri Lanka suffering 30 years of terror and all citizens are now asking the same question. Radical Islam leading to acts of terror must immediately be eliminated to ensure no future generation suffers the scrooge of terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daily news from 21<sup>st<\/sup>\nApril to 21<sup>st<\/sup> May is highlighted below to showcase the dangers we\nhave at hand. Discoveries of not just swords but arms, ammunition, military\nuniforms, Buddhist monks robes, white clothes, SIM cards, drones, sophisticated\nsatellite equipment, fake NICs, women, principals, teachers, moulavi\u2019s and even\nparliamentary staff members being arrested for links with these terror elements\nis shocking all citizens. It is nothing that can be forgotten and nothing that\nwe can move forward without knowing answers and knowing what the government is\ngoing to do about the culprits big or small, however powerful they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>21<sup>st<\/sup> April 2019 \u2013 Easter Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Explosion at St. Anthony\u2019s Church Kochchikade<\/li><li>5 more explosions reported at Katuwapitiya\nChurch in Katana, Zion Church in Batticoloa, Shangri-La hotel, Cinnamon Grand\nHotel &amp; Kingsbury Hotel<\/li><li>Death toll at 12noon \u2013 138 persons<\/li><li>Death toll at 6p.m. \u2013 207 persons<\/li><li>32 foreigners declared dead (by 29 April \u2013 12\nforeigners whereabouts unknown \u2013 presumed as blown to bits) Foreigners were\nfrom 13 countries<\/li><li>Van used to transport explosives seized with\ndriver in Wellawatte<\/li><li>13 arrested \u2013 10 handed to CID<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>22<sup>nd<\/sup> April 2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Death toll at 9a.m. \u2013 290 persons<\/li><li>20 suspects arrested over 21\/4 in 24 hours<\/li><li>Improvised explosive devise detected near the\ndeparture area of Bandaranaike International Airport &amp; disposed by Army<\/li><li>PM says Govt was alerted of attacks before\nbombings <\/li><li>President returns from Singapore<\/li><li>4p.m. \u2013 controlled explosion near Kochchikade\nchurch \u2013 instead was gas cylinder and Rs.1000 notes<\/li><li>5:19p.m. \u2013 suspicious car parked in <strong>Welisara<\/strong> searched &amp; Negombo road\ncordoned off<\/li><li>INTERPOL arrives in Sri Lanka to support\ninvestigations into bombings (no Interpol when Sri Lanka suffered 30 years of\nLTTE terror)<\/li><li>24 suspects arrested in connection with Easter\nbombings \u2013 9 remanded<\/li><li>3p.m. \u2013 87 explosive detonators found in Pettah<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>23<sup>rd<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Death toll at 9a.m. \u2013 310 persons<\/li><li>President issues gazette declaring State of\nEmergency in Sri Lanka<\/li><li>0945a.m. \u2013 suspicious package at Kollupitiya\nrailway station searched<\/li><li>19 suspects arrested over Wanathawilluwa\nexplosives haul released due to political influence? (later OIC informs\nJudicial Service Commission that Colombo Magistrate released suspects despite\nobjections of police)<\/li><li>CCTV footage of Katuwapitiya Church suicide\nbomber released<\/li><li>State Minister for Defense Ruwan Wijewardena\nsays 21\/4 is revenge for Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand<\/li><li>President admits lapses on part of Sri Lankan\ndefense authorities <\/li><li>UNP MP proposes ban on Burka (MP Ashu\nMarasinghe) <\/li><li>ISIS claims responsibility <\/li><li>ISIS releases pics of suicide bombers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>24<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>0845a.m. \u2013 death toll 359 persons<\/li><li>ISIS suspect gave advance warning of Sri Lanka\u2019s\nbombings \u2013 Indian report <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adaderana.lk\/news.php?nid=54595\">http:\/\/www.adaderana.lk\/news.php?nid=54595<\/a><\/li><li>PM says intelligence information received but\nadmits lapses in an interview to NDTV<\/li><li>Now FBI wants to assist Easter Day\ninvestigations<\/li><li>10a.m. controlled explosion of bike in <strong>Wellawatte<\/strong><\/li><li>Factory allegedly used to build bombs for Easter\nattack identified in <strong>Wellampitiya<\/strong><\/li><li>12noon controlled explosion of suspicious parcel\nin Katana<\/li><li>State Minister for Defense Ruwan Wijewardena now\nsays attacks carried out by \u2018splinter group\u2019 of NTJ<\/li><li>Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka calls 21\/4 an\noperation with years of planning<\/li><li>Now UK sends counter-terrorism police to Sri\nLanka<\/li><li>MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse calls for immediate\narrest of Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando &amp; IGP Pujitha J<\/li><li>New Zealand PM says no intelligence linking Sri\nLanka attacks to Christchurch<\/li><li>US says it had \u2018no prior knowledge\u2019 of Sri Lanka\nattack \u2013 US ambassador<\/li><li>18 suspects arrested in connection with 21\/4<\/li><li>2 persons and van arrested in <strong>Warakapola<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>25 April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>CCTV footage of Shangri-la &amp; Cinnamon Grand\nhotel bombers released<\/li><li>Drones barred within Sri Lankan airspace<\/li><li>The Intellectual Community of Muslims requests\nto suspend all small organized Muslim groups<\/li><li>Australian PM confirms Sri Lanka suicide bomber\nstudied in Australia<\/li><li>Hemasiri Fernando Defense Secretary resigns<\/li><li>Suspicious lorry registered under Shangri-la\nbomber seized<\/li><li>ACJU says none of the suicide bombers will be\ngiven Muslim burial<\/li><li>198 detonators found inside abandoned parcel in <strong>Nuwara Eliya<\/strong><\/li><li>16 arrested across <strong>Wattala, Bandaragama, Thirappane, Theldeniya, Balangoda, Matale,\nVavunathivu<\/strong><\/li><li>CCD arrests Mohamed Bathurdeen deported from\nDubai (Brother of Rishard Bathurdeen)<\/li><li>3 arrested with 21 locally made grenades at <strong>Modara<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>26<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Health Ministry revises death toll to 253\npersons<\/li><li>CCTV footage of <strong>Dehiwela <\/strong>suicide bomber released<\/li><li>MP WIjeyadasa Rajapakse says Mujibur Rahman\nshould take responsibility for attacks<\/li><li>Zion church bomber identified as 27 year old\nNasar Azar married to Sarah &amp; residing in <strong>Kattankudy<\/strong><\/li><li>PM says joining foreign terrorist groups not\nagainst Sri Lankan law in interview to SKY News<\/li><li>Shootout between STF and armed group during\nsearch mission in <strong>Kalmunai<\/strong><\/li><li>6 arrested in <strong>Kilinochchi <\/strong><\/li><li>3 nabbed with 1kg of c-4 explosives in <strong>Wellawatte<\/strong><\/li><li>Gunfight in Sainthamarudu leaves 16 dead\nincluding 6 children<\/li><li>Kalmunai raid kills Zaharan\u2019s father &amp; 2\nbrothers. Zaharan\u2019s wife Fathima Sadia is alive with daughter<\/li><li>Noordeen Mohamed Thajudeen Colombo Municipal\nMember arrested with 26 swords in Slave Island as well as 20 garments of\nclothing similar to military uniforms<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>27<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>PM apologizes for failing to prevent Easter\nbombings (after almost a week)<\/li><li>Gotabaya Rajapakse says he will run for\nPresident &amp; tackle radical Islam<\/li><li>Rishard Bathurdeen denies links with NTJ\nterrorists<\/li><li>Suddenly Millennium Challenge Corporation\napproves grant funding for Sri Lanka<\/li><li>National Thowheed Jamath &amp; Jammiyathul\nMillathu Ibrahaim banned in Sri Lanka but not gazetted<\/li><li>The 6 suspects arrested in <strong>Kilinochchi <\/strong>further remanded<\/li><li>Indian police uncover Sri Lanka terror plot\nafter arrests in India<\/li><li>Suspect nabbed with 51 sticks of water-gel\nexplosives, 215 detonators in <strong>Trinco<\/strong><\/li><li>Driver of Zaharan arrested \u2013 Mohamed Sharif Adam\nLebbe (Gafoor) aged 53<\/li><li>49 knives recovered from mosque in Maskeliya store\nroom<\/li><li>Negombo Deputy Mayor arrested possessing sword,\ndagger and 37 mobile phone batteries<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>28<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Some Arabic and Madrassa schools teach extremism\n\u2013 says former President Chandrika <\/li><li>Mahinda Rajapakse says no need for Indian NSG\nsupport, Sri Lanka can tackle terror on its own<\/li><li>US embassy says Easter attack investigation\nsupport doesn\u2019t mean long-term presence of US security (ok sure)<\/li><li>Elder brother of Shangri La 2 suicide bombers Mohamed Ibrahim\nIfthikar has been arrested at <strong>Dematagoda<\/strong>\narea <\/li><li>IS claims the dead in Sainthamarudu were their\nmembers<\/li><li>Mohamed Fawaz &#8211; Deputy Leader of Thowheeth\nJamath arrested from <strong>housing complex in\nKeselwatte<\/strong><\/li><li>Polonnaruwa Welikanda police division arrests\nguns &amp; live ammunition in a farm belonging to a Muslim who was not at home\nbut servant taken into custody<\/li><li>Weligama Maduragoda police conducts search\noperations to find Rs.1.2m under bed of a not so well to do family who could\nnot explain how they got so much money. <\/li><li>Zaharan\u2019s close associate Abdula Latheef Mohamed\nZaheer questioned by Medwatchchiya police<\/li><li>Dickwella \u2013 4 swords \/ 10 Muslims arrested on\nsuspicion \/ 850 houses searched \/ Saudi passport found in one house<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>29<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>18 vehicles (9 bikes, 6\nvans, 2 cars &amp; 1 cab) used by the 8 suicide bombers investigated. Mohamed\nMubarak Mohamed Azam the Kingsbury hotel suicide bomber had 3 bikes, 1 van and\n1 cab registered under his name. The other vehicles had been registered under\nnames of the suicide bombers wives\/close relations<\/li><li>Van blown up by security\nforces near St. Anthony\u2019s church belonged to Kingsbury hotel bomber (though he\narrived in a trishaw)<\/li><li>Kalpitiya \u2013 man arrested possessing 22 NICs of\nwomen<\/li><li>Pakistani handler of suicide bombers arrested<\/li><li>Sulaiman S Ali, arrested with 41 uniforms in\nLunugala, Batawatte. 18 passports and 7 NICs found<\/li><li>Zaharan\u2019s chief priest arrested<\/li><li>Raddolugama \u2013 20 year old Muslim youth arrested\nwith an air rifle &amp; 6 swords<\/li><li>NTJ Colombo district head Mohamed Farook Mohamed\nFawaz kept for 72hrs questioning<\/li><li>New Defense Secretary appointed \u2013 Maj. Gen.\nShantha Kottegoda<\/li><li>Medigiriya \u2013 4 Bangladeshi\u2019s arrested<\/li><li>Preachers teaching at schools without visa to be\ndeported says Govt<\/li><li>Moh. Nawshad former Wattala-Mahabage Municipal\nChairman &amp; member of SLPP also member of NTJ who had sponsored a mosque in\nthe area flees country. His brother Moh. Rifaz caught with 2 walkie-talkies\n&amp; a NTJ banner<\/li><li>Motorbike used in Batticaloa church attack found\nin a house in <strong>Thihariya<\/strong><\/li><li>CID &amp; TID question 59 arrested over Easter\nSunday attacks. 15 suspects including 2 women interrogated by TID. Fathima\nLatifa wife of Zaharan Hashim is Abdul Kader Fathima Kadiya<\/li><li>Anti-aircraft ammunition and detonators found in\n<strong>Welipenna<\/strong><\/li><li>IGP sent on compulsory leave \u2013 acting IGP is\nChandra Wickremaratne<\/li><li>Cardinal warns Govt \u2013 don\u2019t let us take law into\nour hands<\/li><li><strong>Kantale<\/strong>\n\u2013 person arrested with 25 CDs containing information on ISIS<\/li><li><strong>Jamia\nManarul Huda Arabic College<\/strong> searched and several mobile phones, burqas and\nbooks containing activities of LTTE recovered from school<\/li><li>Wariyapola-Katupotha \u2013 4 swords and army boots\nfound in house on a 25 acre property. <\/li><li>MP Dayasri Jayasekera alleges Muslim Affairs\nMinister Haleem allowed construction of 400 NTJ mosques \u2013 a large number of\nNGOs had funded these mosques \u2013 <strong>We demand to know where these 400 mosques are and who funded\nthem<\/strong><\/li><li>3 pressure minds, RPG bullet and other\nammunition found buried near restaurant owned by a Muslim in Kanagarayankulam,\nVavuniya. Owner arrested<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>30<sup>th<\/sup> April 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>SLTJ\u2019s posters for seminars targeting O\/L\nstudents in 2018 found in Kaduruwela<\/li><li>High-sensitivity device recovered from house in\nKaleliya in suspicious threewheeler <\/li><li>Kotte Municipal Councillor H M Ali Usman &amp;\nbrother Raja Mohideen Sultan arrested with 3 swords and a machete knife<\/li><li>Suddenly US says terrorists plotting more\nattacks. But same US envoy said on 24<sup>th<\/sup> April that US had no\nknowledge of 21\/4 atttacks<\/li><li>38 year old External lecturer of a university,\nfather of 4 conducting lectures in mosques belonging to NTJ arrested in\nMundalama in Madurankuliya with 18 sim cards, 2 laptop computers, 2 mobile\nphones and one iPad.<\/li><li>NUTA says Batticoloa Campus has to be brought\nunder Govt<\/li><li>EP Governor\u2019s office \u2013 2 officials N M A Kareem (assistant\nmanager) and M I Nazar (public relations officer) arrested with T-56 bullets<\/li><li>Gampola \u2013 documents belonging to Thowjeed Jamaat\nfound in a shoe shop in which suicide bombers Mohamed Ibrahim Zahid Abdul Haq\nand Ibrahim Sadik Abdul Haq had hidden themselves<\/li><li>Bathurdeen\u2019s coordinating Secretary Mohamed\nZanus arrested \u2013 Wedithalathivu Rural Bank Manager and 2 other businessmen were\namong arrested. Zanus is also the Mantai West Co-operative society chairman. 10\ndetonators found near public toilet near shop belonging to Zanus<\/li><li>Ban on social media removd<\/li><li>Suddenly &#8211; UN Counter\nTerrorism experts in SL&nbsp; &#8211; United Nations\nUnder Secretary General for Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos<\/li><li>CCTV footage of Dehiwela\nbomber released \u2013 Abdula Latif Jameel Mohamed had been to UK in January 2006\nand returned to Sri Lanka in September 2007.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1<sup>st<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Mullaitivu police state 9 walki-talkies used by\nsecurity forces and clothing similar to army uniforms among other items found\nin a luxury hotel under construction in Alampil area. <\/li><li>12 persons arrested with swords, parts of\nfirearms, cothing material similar to army uniforms, posters, banners, fake\npassports, NICs, birth certificates and CDs belonging to Thowheed Jamaath <\/li><li>Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Riskan close accomplice of\nZaharan Hashmi arrested in Subharatheepura in Kuliyapitiya<\/li><li>Tip-off received by Balangoda police recover 18\nbullets from a tea estate in Bulathgama, Balangoda<\/li><li>A search operation in Gorokgahamada in Balangoda\n\u2013 sword recovered from garden of a 37year Muslim youth<\/li><li>31 arrested in Kalpitiya in Mandalakudawa \u2013 30 males\n&amp; 1 female<\/li><li>20 suspects &amp; weapons found in Akurana area\nrepresented by Minister Haleem \u2013 3 words, high speed internet router, parts of\nair rifles, CDs belonging to Thowheed Jamaath, attendance registry for Thowheed\nJamaath lectures, cash deposit receipts in favor of TJ discovered in several\nMuslim households in the area<\/li><li>Explosives and weapons found in MPs abandoned\nland in Mallar area in Samanthurai \u2013 20 pistol ammunition, 8 bullets, army\nuniform &amp; belt. Security forces had inspected house next to land and found\n200 gelignite sticks, 200 detonators, 46 wire chords and 100kg of ammonia.<\/li><li>Police dogs go to house of driver of an MP from\nDigamadulla district where they discover a pistol<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2<sup>nd<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>40 year old arrested with military uniform and\nother equipment at Kovilkulam in Vavuniya on tip off of a suspicious house in\nthe area<\/li><li>NTJ\u2019s Colombo District organizer Mohamed Farook\nMohamed Fawaz remanded until 7<sup>th<\/sup> May as per orders of Colombo\nMagistrate after 72hour interrogation by police<\/li><li>Terrorist Zaharan\u2019s sister Mohammed Fathima\nMadaniya Niyaz arrested in Kattankudy with Rs.2m currency notes.<\/li><li>Fathima Ilham wife Moh. Ilham Ibrahim is\nBathurdeen\u2019s first cousin who died in house at Dematagoda is daughter of\nAlahudeen Jewellers. Alahudeen is Bathurdeen\u2019s mother\u2019s brother. Alahudeen is\nACMC Treasurer. Alahudeen has houses in Singapore, Malaysia &amp; Mannar. She\nhas the female suicide bomber pictured with bracelet on hand.<\/li><li>Suicide kit recovered from house in Kattankudy\nbelonging to the brother of NTJ leader Zaharan, Rilwan.<\/li><li>Mohammed Marsuk Mohammad Rizli, security official\nof Eastern Province Governor Hisbulla arrested by Modara police for illegally\npossessing rubber stamps belonging to Govt \u2013 bail given for Rs.1lakh surety<\/li><li>Over 800 artillery shells found at steel factory\nin Ekala. 100 empty shells of bullets used for T-56 assault rifles found<\/li><li>Van arriving from Thihariya to Anuradhapura\ninspected to find white clothing similar to those found in Sainathamaruthu<\/li><li>Police &amp; Army search in Mt. Lavinia hotel\nroad \u2013 2 Pakistanis arrested without proper identification<\/li><li>Police STF in Ratmalana inspecting beauty\nparlour in Borupana find 14 walkie-talkie, 8 CDs and suspected Muslims taken\ninto custody<\/li><li>Matale-Kalubewela area, Iraqi national in a\nhouse arrested without visa<\/li><li>Nittambuwa \u2013 Mohamed Ibrahim arrested with\nmodern drone, laptop camera and recordings of Zaharan Hashims speeches<\/li><li>Vavuniya \u2013 armed forces uniforms, boots and\nother suspicious items found, suspect arrested<\/li><li>Anuradhapura \u2013 inside mosque army clothing\nfound, 1 Muslim arrested \u2013 inside his room more reading material on Osama, US\nwar training &amp; other reading material found<\/li><li>Welikanda Muslim village \u2013 under a tree 2 remote\ncontrolled claymore mines found<\/li><li>Yatiyantota &amp; Ruwanwella equipment to locate\nmines found \u2013 2 suspects arrested<\/li><li>Udunuwara hous near Batadeniya Muslim mosque \u2013\nbombs found \u2013 2 inside house arrested<\/li><li>Dummalasuriya on tip off by residents parcel\nthrown over Baragoda bridge \u2013 person who threw parcel from trishaw apprehended\nby residents <\/li><li>Trincomalee \u2013 10 swords, T56 magazines found \u2013 4\nsuspects arrested<\/li><li>Kalutara South \u2013 near Kudapalliya mosque swords\nfound<\/li><li>Aluthgama \u2013 Dharga Town 2 suspects arrested with\n20 fake NICs<\/li><li>Moneragala Jumma mosque \u2013 police dogs find\nextremist materials, CDs, Maulavi taken into custody <\/li><li>Moneragala town \u2013 house near mosque in a shop, a\ntruck similar to armed forces with driver taken into custody<\/li><li>Kadawatha police \u2013 Hunupitiya, Enderamulla, 15\nsuspects arrested with 34 passports, 1 laptop, 102 phones, swords and machetes<\/li><li>Mannar, Mantai junction near Andampan bridge\ninspecting a parcel, police find a gun covered in grease<\/li><li>Kurunegala in a house near Maliyadeva college, a\nsniper rifle found with swords and machetes hidden in a room upstairs<\/li><li>Bodies of 10 terrorists who died inside house in\nSainthamaruthu buried without religious rituals<\/li><li>Siddiqui Ahamed Danish, a reuters journalist remanded\nby Negombo magistrate for forcibly attempting to enter Maris Stella College,\nNegombo<\/li><li>Suicide kit discovered inside a house in\nKattankudy owned by Rilwan brother of Zaharan Hashim \u2013 Leader of NTJ<\/li><li>TNA MP Mavai Senathiraja requests govt provide\nextra military security to North (wow what a change of tune) <\/li><li>3 staff of a powerful UNP Minister arrested at\nthe Central Mail Exchange with 600 defamatory letters addressed to Buddhist\ntemples.<\/li><li>Ex-security forces chiefs present report on\nEaster attacks to the Opposition Leader<\/li><li>Kalmunakudi in Kalmunai \u2013 Mechanical engineer\narrested over links to terror acts of 21\/4. A car (EP KM 5059) taken to police\ncustody &amp; STF report that blood stains could be observed in car. Mobile\nphone containing suspicious photos of attack found on suspect<\/li><li>Pulmudai \u2013 Trincomalee \u2013 2 persons arrested\nalong with 89 detonators, 8 tubes of water gel and 2 detonator chargers. One of\nthe arrested was employed as a security guard at the Pulmudai hospital.<\/li><li>Vehicle check in Vavuniya for vehicles arriving\nfrom South after intelligence receives warning that suicide vehicles entering North\n\u2013 12 motorcycles, 2 vans, 2 cabs, 2 cars, 1 three-wheeler and 1 buddy lorry\namong 20 vehicles searched.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3<sup>rd<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Muslim Religious &amp; Cultural Affairs Director\nM R M Malik says there are 1669 Islam \u2018madrassas\u2019 &amp; 317 Arabic schools\nregistered under the Dept of Muslim Religious &amp; Cultural Affairs \u2013 how many\nare illegal<\/li><li>Central Province NTJ financial controller\narrested in Gampola living in rented house close to where Haq brothers,\nidentified as suicide bombers had been hiding. Police find more than 200\ntransactions from banks since 2017. Haq brothers were hiding in Anuradhapura\nafter the bomb blasts on Easter Sunday had arrived in Gampola &amp; were living\nin the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> floor of their uncles shoe shop purchased by one of the\nsuicide bombers for Rs.6.5m<\/li><li>Suspicious car, 5 swords, shotguns, fake NICs,\nATMs, machetes, 11 knives, 12g of drugs found \u2013 18 suspects from Alawathugoda,\nMadawala, Wattegama, Naranwita, Doluwa, Welimada, Nuwara Eliya, Rampadeniya,\nMaskeliya and Dickoya areas arrested. <\/li><li>Kurunegala- Arabic language, CDs, DVDs\n(216pieces), ammunition rounds, mobile phone handsets, two extra batteries\nrecovered<\/li><li>Polonnaruwa, Kaduruwela, Galella areas \u2013 7 mobile\nphones, 1 T-56, 9SIM cards, 2 swords, 1 motorbike apprehended during cordon\n&amp; search operations<\/li><li>Maligawatte, Colombo 10 recovered 7 swords &amp;\nsuspicious army type uniforms<\/li><li>Rishard Bathurdeen leaves for Muscat<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Micro pistol, 6 bullets, 3 walki-talkies, small\naxe and sword found at cemetary in Kattankudy \u2013 2 arrested<\/li><li>2 suspects arrested after an automatic pistol, 9\nbullets, 2 air pistols, air rifle found inside car during search at checkpoint\nnear Sri Rahula ground in Katugastota.<\/li><li>Muslim Association of Sri Lanka refutes\nallegations on funding any religious organizations<\/li><li>2 Jaffna university students arrested during\nspecial security check &amp; remanded<\/li><li>Beruwela police arrested 2 men &amp; 13 women\n&amp; seized 4 swords, 2 knives, 8 mobile phones, 1 pair of binoculars, several\nCDs and Rs.18laksh in cash<\/li><li>Intelligence reports indicate Islamic extremists\nin Sri Lanka may plan attack to damage bridges across the island<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>250 sets of army uniforms found in a shop in\nGalle<\/li><li>Kattankudy \u2013 Zaharahn Hashim\u2019s training ground\ndiscovered in a 10 acre land. Owner arrested. Next land belonging to\nbrother-in-law who was arrested by Saudi police<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>CID identifies more than Rs.140m in cash &amp;\nother assets worth over Rs.7billion belonging to terrorists involved in Easter\nSunday attacks. 73 suspects are still being questioned by CID and TID. 54\nsuspects including 7 women under CID custody. 19 including 2 women under TID\ncustody<\/li><li>Police raid leased guesthouse \u2018Blue Eye Inn\u2019 at\nDharmapalapura Road in Nuwara Eliya used for training by Zaharan from leads\nprovided by State Intelligence unit after interrogating individual considered\nto be one wo provided technological know-how to followers of Zaharan. Sessions\nattended by 35 participants including those who blew themselves up on Easter\nSunday. 2 suspects who indirectly aided Zaharan to conduct classes also\narrested.<\/li><li>Raid at house in Thalapitiya, Galle \u2013 1000 military\nuniforms, weapons &amp; suspects seized<\/li><li>Nawalapitiya \u2013 2 swords, hand axe, 6 knives\ncontaining a polythene bag, sack at Salem bridge on Mahawelia Riverbank<\/li><li>2 men &amp; women arrested \u2013 Horowapothana area.\nSword and 49 CDs found, Interrogation of Arab school teacher who had close\nconnections to Zaharan, remanded <\/li><li>25 acre land in Riditenna area of Valaichchenai\npolice division used for terrorist training. 220 sticks of gelignite,\nmotorcycle &amp; other equipment also seized<\/li><li>Search in Rathna Udagama, Kirikanduruwatte areas\nin Rathgama. 3 suspects arrested with 8 swords<\/li><li>Cache of anti-aircraft bullets found in Vavuniya<\/li><li>7 suicide bombers from Kattankudy identified as\nfollowers of NTJ arrested in Hambantota \u2013 suspects trained very discretely in\nHambantota over a long period<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dept of Muslim Affairs informs all mosques not\nto use loud speakers too loudly to announce azan<\/li><li>15 swords surrendered to Beruwela police<\/li><li>Kilinochchi gun factory raided \u2013 locally manufactured\nguns recovered &amp; owner in factory arrested after raid on illegal arms\nmanufacturing plant in Poonakary in Kilinochchi<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Negombo \u2013 former SLMC PC Member Shafi Raheem\narrested with 8 sophisticated cell phone jamming device<\/li><li>Rs.3m worth of military uniforms found in Matale<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>St. Anthony\u2019s Church suicide bomber arrived in\nvehicle belonging to suicide bomber of Kingsbury hotel. Same vehicle exploded\nby security forces on 22 April 2019<\/li><li>Mohamed Aliyar \u2013 close associate of Zaharan\nHashim arrested in Kattankudy. He carried out financial transactions with\nHashim.<\/li><li>12 Muslim teachers who refused to change Nikab\ntransferred from Puwakpitiya Tamil Maha Vidyalaya in Avissawella by Western\nProvince Governor Azad Salley<\/li><li>Kochchikade suicide bomber\u2019s brother among 3\narrested<\/li><li>Case filed against Secretary of the Ceylon\nThowheed Jamaath Abdul Razik arrested in 2016 on charges of inciting religious\ndisharmony &amp; making derogatory remarks to Ven. Gnansara Thero set to be\ntaken up on 25<sup>th<\/sup> July <\/li><li>Director General of Government InformatioN\nNalaka Kaluwewa instructed all media to refrain from broadcasting footage of\nweapons including swords and knives during search operations<\/li><li>Aluthgama Dharga Town near mosque \u2013 swords and\nbooks distorting Buddhism found<\/li><li>US official injured in Easter attacks succumbs\nto injuries in Singapore hospital<\/li><li>US exerting influence internally by taking 9\njudges to US alleges MP Gammanpila with names in Parliament<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>MP Kadar Masthan calls for general amnesty for\nsuspects<\/li><li>Hartal in Trincomalee demanding removal of\nGovernor Hisbullah<\/li><li>Suspect living in a luxury house down Galwihara\nRd, Dehiwela arrested in Maradana with Rs.8.3m in cash and gold<\/li><li>Disciplinary action against Wellampitiya police\nfollowing interim report<\/li><li>Court orders DNA tests to confirm identities of\nShangri-la bombers<\/li><li>Abdul Razik responds to allegations by\nPulasthini\u2019s (Sarah\u2019s) mother. Sarah is wife of Katuwapitiya Church bomber. She\nwas allegedly abducted &amp; forced to convert to Islam according to her mother\nwho said daughter is held by Abdul Razik the secretary of Ceylon Thowheed\nJamath. Mother says Razik abducted her and married her to Atchchi Muhammadu\nHashtun from Maligawatte. Sarah was names as one of the 6 wanted suspects. She\nis believed to have died in the Kalmunai house explosion. DNA being carried out\nto verify identity.<\/li><li>Buried cache of explosives belonging to\nSainthamaruthu bombers found from Kattankudy beach<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>11<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Malwane \u2013 school uniforms, aesthetic CDs found<\/li><li>3 day period to hand over illegal explosives to\npolice by 14<sup>th<\/sup> May 19<\/li><li>More arrests made as search operations continue \u2013\nsuspect arrested in Kattankudy by police who had been trained in Hambantota<\/li><li>Acting on information\nprovided by Akkaraipattu Police, Navy recover several sharp items, an\nunidentified grenade, a tablet PC, a personal computer and a binocular from the\nMorawdi lagoon. During a search operation in Marassana in Thalawathuoya, Navy\npersonnel recovered 365 live ammunition, 72 empty shells along with three\nmagazines. All items handed over to Police for further investigations<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>12<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Trouble in Chilaw when the\nresidents of the area had objected a social media post to incite disunity among\nraces. The person who made the post was arrested by the police<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>13<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Curfew in Chilaw <\/li><li>Police curfew in\nKuliyapitiya, Bingiriya &amp; Dummalasuriya from midnight 12May to 13th May\n6a.m \u2013 mob riots<\/li><li>Social media temporarily\nbanned<\/li><li>I\u2019m ashamed to see this\nkind of terrorism from Muslim society &#8211; Brigadier Izadeen<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>14<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>TID to record statement from suspect from\nKarupayya Rajendran Abdulla arrested at Wellampitiya copper factory owned by\nthe suicide bomber at the Shangri-La Hotel. Nine other suspects who were\narrested at the said copper factory were granted bail on May 6<sup>th<\/sup><\/li><li>Gazette issued banning three groups including\nNTJ &#8211; extraordinary Gazette notification proscribing National Thowheed Jamath\n(NTJ), Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) and Willayath As Seylani \u2013 now official\nafter 27<sup>th<\/sup> April ban<\/li><li>Leader of Maha Sohon Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe\nand the Director of Anti-Corruption Movement Namal Kumara have been arrested <\/li><li>UN calls on Sri Lankan govt. to ensure situation\ndoes not escalate (no statement about swords and weapons being found but just one\nincident and UN jumps into scene)<\/li><li>UN Special Adviser on the\nPrevention of Genocide Adama Dieng and UN Special Adviser on the Responsibility\nto Protect Karen Smith said they are alarmed about the growing acts of violence\non the basis of religion, including attacks against homes, places of worship\nand businesses, in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka<\/li><li>An island-wide police curfew will be enforced from 9.00 pm<\/li><li>Court calls for postmortem of Kochchikade bomber\nAlawdeen Ahamed,\nfather of the bomber stated that his 22-year-old son had completed basic law\neducation and was qualified to enter the law college. his son left home on the\n14th April to go to Kalmunai; however, he had not even phoned the father until\nhis death on Easter Sunday (21 April).<\/li><li>UK hate preacher Anjem Choudary radicalized\nLankan bomber Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel, 37, who was from a wealthy family\ninvolved in the tea trade: Report. Jameel met the radical preacher while\nstudying at Kingston University. Jameel, a father of four children<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>15<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>SL software engineer provided technical and\nlogistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian\nintelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects.\nAadhil Ameez, a 24-year-old, was the link between two groups that carried out\nthe attacks on churches and hotels. Aadhil was arrested in Gujarat on 25 April\n2019<\/li><li>Mohamed Assam Mohamed Mubarak, the bomber at the\nKingsbury Hotel aide Mohamed Adam Lebbe arrested with several passports<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>16<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>97 percent of Zahran\u2019s gang already arrested &#8211;\nRuwan Wijewardene<\/li><li>EU concerned about incidents of communal\nviolence in Sri Lanka<\/li><li>Mohamed Rizwan with close links to Easter Sunday\nattackers arrested in Mabola<\/li><li>Wife of Kochchikade suicide bomber Alawddin\nAhmed Muath, the 22-year-old law graduate gives birth to their 1st baby on 5\nMay.&nbsp; Muath got married 14 months\nago&nbsp; <\/li><li>CID finds 17 safe houses in in Negombo,\nKatuwapitiya, Panadura, Sarkikamulla, St. Anthony\u2019s Road in Kollupitiya, Tropos\nRoad in Mount Lavinia, Wanathawilluwa, Wattala Enderamulla, Mayura Place in\nWellawatte, Sainthamarudhu 09, Malwana, Thihariya, Kalagedihena, Kochchikade\nDaluwakotuwa, Valachchenai-Ridiyatenna, Sabarathipura in Kuliyapitiya,\nHettipola , Katupotha, Ninthavur, and Samanthurai areas. and 7 training camps\nof terrorists in Wanathavilluwa, Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Aruppola,\nKattankudy, and Valaichenai areas<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>17<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>He left saying he was going to Canada, Rifkan\u2019s\nfather-in-law. Rifkan a close accomplice of Zahran Hashim \u2013ringleader behind\nthe attacks<\/li><li>Two suspects &#8211; Noor Mohammadu Abdul Rasool and\nKana Mohamed Mijam, were identified as a principal and an acting principal of\ntwo Muslim schools in the area.with close links to Zahran arrested at\nHorowpathana<\/li><li>Karupayya Rajendran Abdulla arrested at\nWellampitiya copper factory further remanded.&nbsp;\nOIC of Wellampitiya Police, submitting a report to the court, stated\nthat the investigations have uncovered close relations between the Insaf Ahmed,\nthe second suicide bomber at the Shangri-La Hotel and Karupayya Rajendran.\nInsaf Ahmed has reportedly gifted Rs 200,000 for the Karupayya Rajendran\u2019s\nwedding &#8211; he also had 3 cheques each worth Rs 2.5 million<\/li><li>Kebethigollawa Magistrates Court allows to\ndetain two suspects Noor Mohammadu Abdul Rasool and Kana Mohamed Mijam,\nidentified as a Principal and an Acting Principal of two Muslim schools linked\nto Zahran for 72 hours<\/li><li>Social media ban lifted<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>18<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>On a tip off police\ndiscover a stock of 500- 9mm ammunition and army guerilla kits from a Pharmacy\nin Raja Weediya, Matale&nbsp; <\/li><li>Parliamentary translator\ndetained for involvement with NTJ in Kurunegala &#8211; suspect will be detained for\na period of 90 days for purpose of interrogation &#8211; He is also reported to be a\nkey speaker in the series of lectures conducted island-wide by the NTJ.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>19<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>36 Pakistani deportees escorted to community\ncentre in Vavuniya &#8211; on April 25th, nearly 600 Pakistani deportees were also\ntaken to a community centre in Nittambuwa area after being told to leave their\nhouses.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>20<sup>th<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A coconut land in\nKurunegala training centre &#8211; 6 suspects connected with 21\/4 arrested. So far 69\nare in CID custody and 20 are in TID custody for questioning<\/li><li>Weapons and ammo recovered\nfrom several areas including Trincomalee<\/li><li>Zahran\u2019s main organizer \u2018Kalmunai Siam\u2019 arrested\nalong with 4 other suspects. \u2018Kalmunai Siam\u2019 had trained in Hambantota area and\nthat he is a powerful member of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ)\norganization.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>21<sup>st<\/sup> May 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hettipola police arrest Pakistani employed at\nprivate company&nbsp;&nbsp; without proper Visa\ndocumentation<\/li><li>DNA test with daughter confirms Zahran Hashim\nwas killed in Shangri-La bombing<\/li><li>FR Petition filed by a father, who had lost his\nson and daughter in the Easter Day terrorist attack, against IGP &amp; fmr\nDefence Secretary for failing to prevent the attacks on churches and hotels\neven when intelligence information had forewarned.to be considered on May 31<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see there are safe\nhouses and training cells operating throughout the island in virtually all\nprovinces. Scores of foreigners are emerging in rural Sri Lanka, what are they\npreaching? Businessmen have also been linked as funding these terror\norganizations \u2013 who are they why are they not being exposed. All entities be\nthey mosque, madrassas, schools, businesses, shops ets with links must be shut\ndown for good and necessary legal action taken against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meanwhile, the Govt has a\nlot more to do about the victims of Easter Sunday. The dead are gone but there\nare families who are traumatized and some are unable to work. There are\nchildren without parents. The Church may have enough money but there are hearts\nneeded to reach out to these innocent people \u2013 to share their sorrow and pain\nand help them salvage what they have left and move on however difficult it is.\nFor this some special program needs to be created under the auspices of the\nChurch and more than money people\u2019s kindness is what is now required while it\nis good for people to offer scholarships to children who may need it,\nemployment and other necessities in a humane way. Hopefully organizations do\nnot turn this into an opportunity for them to raise funds for personal benefit\nas a means of tax evasions which is generally what happens with most charity\nfunds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The people must exert pressure on\nthe government to hold a Commission of Inquiry into the failures of preventing\nEaster Sunday and hold every single person accountable for the deaths of\ninnocent people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shenali D Waduge<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-48002169\">https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-48002169<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/106548256_57d155aa-385c-4d91-af1f-ba9c4d190b20.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/106548256_57d155aa-385c-4d91-af1f-ba9c4d190b20.jpg 660w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/106548256_57d155aa-385c-4d91-af1f-ba9c4d190b20-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StchurchR.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StchurchR.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StchurchR-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"704\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2105192.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2105192.jpg 704w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2105192-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/At-least-207-killed-450-hurt-in-eight-church-hotel-bombings-in-Sri-Lanka.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/At-least-207-killed-450-hurt-in-eight-church-hotel-bombings-in-Sri-Lanka.jpg 975w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/At-least-207-killed-450-hurt-in-eight-church-hotel-bombings-in-Sri-Lanka-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/At-least-207-killed-450-hurt-in-eight-church-hotel-bombings-in-Sri-Lanka-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"644\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/srilanka-blast-1555844200A.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/srilanka-blast-1555844200A.jpg 644w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/srilanka-blast-1555844200A-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2019-04-222.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2019-04-222.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali2019-04-222-300x174.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali210519.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali210519.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shenali210519-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"586\" height=\"583\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shenali2019-05-211.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shenali2019-05-211.jpg 586w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shenali2019-05-211-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shenali2019-05-211-300x298.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shantha-mayadunne-and-her-daughter-nisanga-l.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shantha-mayadunne-and-her-daughter-nisanga-l.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shantha-mayadunne-and-her-daughter-nisanga-l-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/SRILANKA-FUNERAL.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/SRILANKA-FUNERAL.jpeg 660w, https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/SRILANKA-FUNERAL-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 21st April 2019 what was to be a special day for Catholics\/Christians ended up a day of tragedy. We are still to know the exact number of death but we do know that 9 Islamic radicals thought of ending lives of innocent people in 3 churches and 3 hotels and had taken months to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1498,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89145\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}