Top government official tells Indian media 'involvement of international elements is clear,' two or three more bombs believed to be at large

Advisor and coordinating secretary at the Presidential Secretariat, Shiral Lakthilaka, was quoted as telling the Indian Express that Investigators suspect that two or three more bombs remain at large.

Mr Lakthilaka was quoted as saying “involvement of international elements is clear.” He told the Indian media that the arrest of seven suspects was based on the “suspicious movement” of a vehicle before the blast at Colombo’s Cinnamon Grand hotel, which was one of those targetted.

“Such a series of blasts and killings was not witnessed even at the height of the Sri Lankan war (against the Tamil Tigers)…We can see a pattern similar to a series of blasts that occurred in Nigeria a few years ago (2011) and an attack in Pakistan (2018),” Lakthilaka was quoted as saying, without providing further details.

Commenting about a possible security and intelligence lapse Mr Lakthilaka said: “A detailed investigation will look into all aspects of the incident. It may be too early to talk about (security) lapses. Terrorists have penetrated our security system… We suspect the role of international elements behind this. We cannot pinpoint anyone, a political or religious angle, to this tragedy right now. We have tightened security for all hotels and worship centres in the country. The situation is under control and the army is on standby to assist and take over any crisis situation.”