Security forces successfully contained threat posed by terrorist: Sri Lankan President

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday said the security forces have successfully contained the threat posed by the terrorist network and 56 suspects including 12 from terrorist groups linked to Easter Sunday attacks are in custody.

Speaking in Parliament, Sirisena said that 13 safe houses, several cache of explosives and 41 bank accounts used by the terror network have been identified and seized.

The President, who is also defence and Law and Order minister, said that he had instructed the security forces to destroy the terrorists linked to the attacks.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his address said that daily life in Sri Lanka is returning to normal amid tighter security. He said daily business operations and affairs of the general public have returned to normal.

Wickremsinghe said that the police is continuing to investigate the bombings and all living suspects directly connected to the attack have been arrested, while others closely linked are being investigated and arrested.

He, however, added that the threat has not completely ended, as global terror attacks may manifest in many ways.

At least 257 people including 44 foreigners were killed in the attacks which was carried out by local groups with the support of Islamic state.