Islamist bombers hit three churches and three hotels in 2019, killing more than 279 people, but grieving families say they are still awaiting justice.

269 people died in the Easter Sunday attacks. A TV documentary has prompted the latest investigation, amid pressure from relatives, lawmakers, religious leaders and activists.

Families, survivors urge ‘deserving punishment’ for perpetrators, as evidence suggest authorities had intelligence on potential attacks at least two weeks in advance.

Hyun Chang Chung returns to country 19 years after he was caught in the Boxing Day Tsunami, and shocks the trail route’s designer by doing it in one none-stop run.

The pope urged authorities to ‘make clear once and for all’ who was responsible for fatal attacks; it’s been said the bombs were part of a plot to help Rajapaksa win the November 2019 election.

Hundreds tried to storm the home of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the current president and one of four politically active brothers; The controversial clan has held sway over the nation’s politics for decades.

Hejaaz Hizbullah arrested in 2020 on suspicion of being linked to attacks on churches and hotels the previous year that killed 279; detention highlighted by rights groups, European Parliament, UN.

Detectives took Rishad Bathiudeen, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Party and a former government minister, into custody following a predawn raid on Saturday.

The Indian Ocean destination is reopening for overseas visitors after a 10-month closure to restart its tourism industry, which has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as terrorist bombings in 2019.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won the presidency in November vowing to restore relations with China, wants a two-thirds majority to implement his economic and national security agenda.

The country is in talks with China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to provide the new loan in addition to the US$1.2 billion obtained from international agencies this year.

Interpol identified one suspect as Mohamed Milhan, a senior leader of National Thowheeth Jama’ath, which was blamed for the hotel and church bombings.

A ministerial source said Maithripala Sirisena has refused to allow any police, military or intelligence personnel to testify before an investigative committee.

Muslim ministers have resigned so the government can probe whether any of them were involved in the Easter Sunday bombs that killed more than 200

The Easter Sunday bombings have deterred visitors, hitting small local businesses hard in the island nation.

Sri Lankan family in Hong Kong who helped shelter American whistle-blower Edward Snowden say they fear for their lives and call on Canada to grant them refuge.

Experts say the spread of ‘tawhid’ needs to be monitored as radicals exploiting the concept seek to change how locals have traditionally practised Islam in a multi-religious society.

Ultraconservative Salafi-Wahhabi Islam, which has its roots in the Middle Eastern kingdom, has been taking root among the South Asian island’s Muslims.

Since the deadly church and hotel bombings, the once crowded clubs, restaurants and bars of the capital have been empty. Owners face lean times, but remain optimistic about Sri Lanka’s resilience and the return of customers.

The need for extreme vigilance in the face of internet-enabled terrorism, which sees the entire globe as its battlefield, cannot be understated.

The Sri Lankan foreign ministry had previously said 44 foreign nationals died in the attacks, while another 10 are still unaccounted for.

With the army staging raids across the country and authorities maintaining high levels of security, the country’s 1.25 million Christians are still on edge after jihadist bombers killed 257 people.

The deadly new phenomenon sees women radicalised by IS ideology taking their children’s lives and their own in pursuit of martyrdom, while experts say the rise in the radicalisation of married couples is endangering entire families.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith closes churches and Catholic schools and cancels public congregations for Mass ‘until further notice’.

Authorities in India and Bangladesh are investigating activities with possible Islamic State links while Sri Lanka pursues suspects in the bombing that killed 253 people.