Sri Lanka extends emergency a month after suicide bombings

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s president extended on Wednesday, May 22, by a further month the state of emergency imposed immediately after the Easter Sunday Islamist bombings that killed 258 people.

Maithripala Sirisena issued a proclamation saying that the emergency, which gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects for long periods of time, would continue for another 30 days, citing “public security.”

Sri Lanka initially imposed the emergency to crack down on local jihadists blamed for the April 21 bombings that targeted 3 churches and 3 luxury hotels.

Three weeks after the suicide bombings, anti-Muslim riots broke out in a province north of the capital in a backlash against the attacks. At least one Muslim man was killed and hundreds of Muslim-owned shops and homes were destroyed. Several mosques were also vandalized.

The police and the military say they have arrested scores of suspects, both in connection with the bombings and over what appeared to be organized violence against the Muslim minority.

The authorities say they have neutralized the jihadist threat after arresting almost all those involved in the Easter attacks, but troops and police remain on alert across the island.

Christians make up 7.6% and Muslims 10% of mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka. – Rappler.com