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| Sri Lanka attacks: tributes paid as more victims named - live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| According to Sri Lankan media outlet Daily News, local victims of the bomb blasts are to receive compensation. It quoted the health and nutrition and Indigenous medicine minister Rajitha Senaratne, announcing the scheme: | |
| The government has decided to pay Rs.100,000 (US$570) as funeral expenses and Rs. one million (US$5,700) for the families of those who died as compensation. Those who have injured will receive compensation ranging from Rs.100,000 to Rs.300,000 according to the severity of the injury. | |
| In New York the UN security council condemned the Sri Lanka attacks “in the strongest possible terms”. | |
| The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Sri Lanka and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. | |
| The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. | |
| China has warned its nationals against travelling to Sri Lanka. Beijing is a major investor in Sri Lanka. If Chinese nationals insist on travelling to Sri Lanka, it would be difficult for the embassy to provide effective assistance in view of the “huge security risks” involved, the Chinese embassy said in a statement on its website. | |
| Sri Lankan stock exchange to reopen | Sri Lankan stock exchange to reopen |
| Trading on Colombo’s stock exchange will resume on Tuesday morning at 10.30am, according to the government’s official news portal. | Trading on Colombo’s stock exchange will resume on Tuesday morning at 10.30am, according to the government’s official news portal. |
| Social media blackout continues | Social media blackout continues |
| The blocks on social media aps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are still in place. Twitter also appears to be blocked. The Associated Press has reported that YouTube, Snapchat and Viber have also been affected. The authorities said the blocks were put in place to stop the spread of misinformation online. | The blocks on social media aps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are still in place. Twitter also appears to be blocked. The Associated Press has reported that YouTube, Snapchat and Viber have also been affected. The authorities said the blocks were put in place to stop the spread of misinformation online. |
| Sri Lanka’s business paper, the Daily FT, is reporting that parliament will be “summoned” today in order to allow the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to make a statement about the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. | Sri Lanka’s business paper, the Daily FT, is reporting that parliament will be “summoned” today in order to allow the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to make a statement about the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. |
| National day of mourning | National day of mourning |
| Sri Lankans will observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday, to grieve the loss of nearly 300 people killed in Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks on hotels and churches. | Sri Lankans will observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday, to grieve the loss of nearly 300 people killed in Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks on hotels and churches. |
| Australia has also updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, cautioning people to “reconsider your need to travel”. It confirms access to the airport for those wanting to travel out of Colombo: | Australia has also updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, cautioning people to “reconsider your need to travel”. It confirms access to the airport for those wanting to travel out of Colombo: |
| Passengers of all airlines flying out of Bandaranaike International Airport during the period can reach the airport during curfew by producing their air tickets and passports to security forces at check points. Departing passengers are requested to arrive four hours before their flight. Authorities have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers. | Passengers of all airlines flying out of Bandaranaike International Airport during the period can reach the airport during curfew by producing their air tickets and passports to security forces at check points. Departing passengers are requested to arrive four hours before their flight. Authorities have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers. |
| In the UK, Press Association is reporting that flags will fly at half mast outside Downing Street and the Foreign Office building on Tuesday in mourning for the victims of the attack. It’s believed members of three British families died in the bomb blasts. | In the UK, Press Association is reporting that flags will fly at half mast outside Downing Street and the Foreign Office building on Tuesday in mourning for the victims of the attack. It’s believed members of three British families died in the bomb blasts. |
| UK travel advice for Sri Lanka | UK travel advice for Sri Lanka |
| British travel advice to Sri Lanka was updated on Monday. As well as urging travellers to follow local security advice, hotel security staff and tour companies, the Foreign Office gave information on those wanting to travel in and out of Colombo airport. It said: | British travel advice to Sri Lanka was updated on Monday. As well as urging travellers to follow local security advice, hotel security staff and tour companies, the Foreign Office gave information on those wanting to travel in and out of Colombo airport. It said: |
| The Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that, if you need to catch a flight from Colombo airport, you are able to travel to the airport provided you have both passport and ticket valid for travel that day. They have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers. | The Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that, if you need to catch a flight from Colombo airport, you are able to travel to the airport provided you have both passport and ticket valid for travel that day. They have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers. |
| You can see the full advice on the FCO’s Twitter account here. | You can see the full advice on the FCO’s Twitter account here. |
| Who carried out the bomb attacks? | Who carried out the bomb attacks? |
| After news emerged on Monday that Sri Lankan authorities were warned of possible attacks two weeks ago, attention has focussed on who could be behind the bomb blasts. | After news emerged on Monday that Sri Lankan authorities were warned of possible attacks two weeks ago, attention has focussed on who could be behind the bomb blasts. |
| No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but according to the Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman and health minister, Rajitha Senaratne, who gave a press conference on Monday afternoon, an intelligence memo warning about the attacks named the radical Islamist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath as planning suicide bomb attacks on churches. However it’s unclear if any new information has emerged since the attacks that establishes if that organisation is responsible. | No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but according to the Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman and health minister, Rajitha Senaratne, who gave a press conference on Monday afternoon, an intelligence memo warning about the attacks named the radical Islamist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath as planning suicide bomb attacks on churches. However it’s unclear if any new information has emerged since the attacks that establishes if that organisation is responsible. |
| You can read our full story about the warning of attacks here. | You can read our full story about the warning of attacks here. |
| Sri Lanka authorities were warned of attacks two weeks ago, says minister | Sri Lanka authorities were warned of attacks two weeks ago, says minister |
| The international police organisation, Interpol, is deploying a response team to Sri Lanka at the request of local authorities to help with the investigation into the bombings. | The international police organisation, Interpol, is deploying a response team to Sri Lanka at the request of local authorities to help with the investigation into the bombings. |
| Hello, this is Alison Rourke taking over the live blog on the Sri Lanka bomb attacks. Let’s start with a summary of what we know. | Hello, this is Alison Rourke taking over the live blog on the Sri Lanka bomb attacks. Let’s start with a summary of what we know. |
| Here’s what we know so far: | Here’s what we know so far: |
| The death toll from Easter Sunday’s attacks on churches and hotels stands at 290, with at least 500 injured. | The death toll from Easter Sunday’s attacks on churches and hotels stands at 290, with at least 500 injured. |
| The vast majority of those who lost their lives were Sri Lankan. It’s thought as many as 40 foreign nationals may also have been killed. | The vast majority of those who lost their lives were Sri Lankan. It’s thought as many as 40 foreign nationals may also have been killed. |
| A state of emergency came into force at midnight local time on Monday, giving police and military special powers, including detention without a court order. | A state of emergency came into force at midnight local time on Monday, giving police and military special powers, including detention without a court order. |
| A night-time curfew remains in place. | A night-time curfew remains in place. |
| On Tuesday President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet with foreign diplomats to “to seek international assistance to combat terrorism”. | On Tuesday President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet with foreign diplomats to “to seek international assistance to combat terrorism”. |