Colombo - Police have arrested another 16 people in connection
to a series of bombings in Sri Lanka over Easter weekend which
claimed at least 359 lives, officials said Thursday.
Fresh security measures, including a ban on the use of drones, were
introduced as police and security forces continued in their efforts
to crack down on the network of people involved in the bombings.
The latest arrests brought the number of suspects in detention up to
76. Vehicles used by the suspects have also been seized in the
operations.
Teams from the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
and from international police organization Interpol were in the
country assisting local investigators.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also banned the use of drones and
unmanned aircraft within Sri Lankan airspace until further notice.
Tight security was maintained around hotels, places of worship and
government buildings with authorities carrying out random checks on
cars and passenger buses.
On Wednesday, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena directed two
top officials to step down amid allegations they failed to share
intelligence reports with him about possible suicide attacks which
were available to officials earlier in March.
Sirisena claimed that Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and
Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara also failed to inform
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet.
The country has been under a state of emergency since late on Monday.