The Sri Lankan President declared a nationwide emergency.

The military has also been given sweeping war-time powers to arrest and detain suspects.

The military was given a wider berth to detain and arrest suspects – powers that were used during the civil war, but withdrawn when it ended.

The president’s media unit said the measure would be confined to dealing with “terrorism” and would not impose on freedom of expression.

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, said he feared Sunday’s massacre could unleash instability, and he vowed to “vest all necessary powers with the defence forces” to act against those responsible.

This all comes after a string of bombings on Easter Sunday on three churches and hotels in the capital killed nearly 300 people and wounded 500 others.

The Health Minister blamed a local Muslim group in Sri Lanka for the attacks.

Stating that President for failing to act on intelligence on the Muslim group as it was shared weeks before the multiple blasts.

Police say they have now arrested at least 24 people in connection to Sunday’s bombings.

Two leading Muslim groups issued statements condemning the attacks and urging the maximum punishment for everyone involved in these heinous acts.