In late May, President Sirisena told diplomats -- from Australia, Canada, Japan, the US and European states -- the security situation was '99 per cent back to normal' and he would allow the emergency laws to lapse by June 22.
After carrying out searches at seven locations in the city on Wednesday, the NIA had detained six people for questioning and arrested prime accused Mohammed Azarudeen, who was a Facebook friend of Sri Lankan Easter Day blasts mastermind Zahra Hashim.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India is open to ideas on how we can make the work of Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence, more effective.
Indian authorities shared intelligence with Sri Lanka before the serial blasts rocked the neighbouring country. However, Sri Lankan authorities failed to act on the intelligence inputs.
The 45-year-old man died shortly after admission to a hospital in Puttalam district during anti-Muslim rioting which began Sunday.
Efforts are on at the diplomatic level to get the two prominent members of the National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ), which carried out the Easter Sunday suicide attacks on April 21, arrested and deported to Sri Lanka.
"Considering the current situation in the country, we have reviewed the visas system and took a decision to tighten visa restrictions for religious teachers," Sri Lanka Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said.
Mohammed Zahran, the leader of the now banned, National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), was responsible for the Easter Sunday bombing at the luxury hotel, Shangri-La.
Siddiqui Ahamad Danish was arrested on the charges of unauthorised entry and was later remanded by the Negombo magistrate till May 15.
Sirisena said authorities were aware of “a small group” of Sri Lankans who had travelled abroad to receive training from Islamic State over the past decade.
Investigations have revealed that Saharan Hashim, the main suspect in the serial blasts in Sri Lanka, used to follow the preaching of Naik. The April 21 Easter Sunday bombings killed at least 250 people.
The others arrested for the crime, include ten Nigerians, an Iraqi, and a Thai national staying in different parts of the Lankan capital.
Shiv Sena alleged that many Muslims have not understood the true meaning of their religion (Islam), and have confused it with traditions and customs like burqa, polygamy, triple talaq and resistance to family planning.
The US Embassy in Colombo has said that at the request of the Sri Lankan Government, US security experts were working closely with their Sri Lankan partners on "fulfilling short term, specific objectives" related to the recent attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Powerful blasts ripped through three churches and as many luxury hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, killing 253 people and injuring more than 500 others.
President Sirisena acknowledged during his meeting on Monday with the country's hoteliers, that the tourism and hotel industries were worst hit after the string of powerful blasts ripped through three churches and as many luxury hotels on Easter Sunday.
The accused, 29, has reportedly confessed to have been inspired by Zahran Hashim, the alleged mastermind behind last Sunday's suicide bombings in Sri Lanka in which at least 250 died.
Mohamed Hashim Mathaniya, the sister of Mohamed Zahran Hashim, the man Sri Lankan authorities believe was one of the leaders of the attacks, said she identified her brother from photographs of his body parts at the police station earlier in the week.
He would take his colour, brushes and canvas outside to paint and talk with his love. He would stand close to the window and paint, keeping an eye on his muse.
They say the violin mimics the human sound. In his case, it was that of love, of longing. He didn’t know any other way of loving.
Younger people do not have much progressive beliefs; a 2017 survey found that one-third of young people opposed inter-caste marriage.
The pandemic has made it clear that virtual learning is here to stay. In the West, the big question is whether it will dilute the quality of the college experience and education. In India, which grapples with digital divide, the question remains whether this will reach most people at all.
Even after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, many 'informed' individuals in India continue to deny the virus with unscientific claims and unfounded data. The latest? Omicron will end the pandemic.
Across Asia there are deeply entrenched obstacles to a mode of higher education that is liberal in multiple senses – disciplinary and epistemological but also social and political.
The two incidents in the recent past, one in Mon district of Nagaland and the other at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, undermined the core principles democracy and federalism.