Sri Lanka Muslim groups denounce attackers
Sri Lanka's Muslim civil society movements and associations have called upon authorities to immediately arrest and punish the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday bombings, saying extremism in the name of Islam does not represent the religion.A joint statement says authorities should also apprehend those who aided and abetted the attackers through incitement, financing and other support.
It says neither the National Thowheed Jamath nor those who carried out the attacks represent Islam or reflect Muslim beliefs. The statement says they have misused and abused Islam in order to fit their own radical and anti-Islamic agenda, and are criminals.
The signatories include All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the Muslim Council, Jama'athe Islami, the Memon Association of Sri Lanka and Anjuman-E Saifi.
Leader among nine suicide bombers: Minister
The leader of one of the groups behind the Easter Sunday attacks was believed to be one of the suicide bombers, which also included a woman, state minister of defense Ruwan Wijewardena said.Speaking at a news conference in Colombo, Wijewardena said security forces believed that the bombers were "well educated" individuals, adding that one of them studied in the UK and Australia.
Wijewardena said there were nine suicide bombers, of which eight have been identified. Two safe houses were found after the attacks and at least 60 people were arrested in connection with the bombings, the minister added.
Death toll rises to 359
The death toll from the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka has risen to 359, police say.Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera released the toll on Wednesday but did not give a breakdown of casualties from the three churches and four hotels hit by suicide bombers.
Al Jazeera's Minelle Fernandez, reporting from Colombo, said investigations into the attacks had been widened and another 18 people had been arrested.
