Sri Lankan security forces maintained a high level of alert on Tuesday after the Easter Sunday bombings, officials said, amid intelligence reports that militants were planning fresh attacks before the start of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. The head of the police ministerial security division had said in a letter to lawmakers and other officials that attacks were expected on Sunday or Monday by militants dressed in army uniform. There were no attacks on Sunday and Monday but security across Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka remains ramped up, with scores of suspected militants arrested since the April 21 attacks on hotels and churches that killed more than 250 people, including 42 foreign nationals. However, the government lifted a ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and viber, a source at the president's office said. The ban had been imposed immediately after the attacks to prevent the spread of rumors. "Security will stay tight for several days because military and police are still tracking down suspects," a senior police intelligence official said on Tuesday. Another government source said a document has been circulated among key security establishments instructing all police and security forces across the Indian Ocean island nation to remain on high alert because the militants were expected to try a strike before Ramadan. Ramadan is scheduled to begin in Sri Lanka on May 6. The government has also banned women from wearing face veils under an emergency law put in place after the Easter attacks. Authorities suspect members of two previously little-known groups — National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim — of carrying out the attacks, although Daesh (the so-called IS) has claimed responsibility. Authorities believe Zahran Hashim, the founder of NTJ, was the mastermind and one of the nine suicide bombers. In India, police said they had arrested a 29-year-old man in the southern state of Kerala, close to Sri Lanka, for planning similar attacks there. The man had been influenced by speeches made by Zahran, the government's National Investigation Agency said in a statement. Sri Lanka's 22 million population is mostly Buddhist but includes minority Christians, Muslims and Hindus. In another development, Sri Lanka's Catholic Church said public masses will resume Sunday under tight security. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said the Church was closely monitoring investigations into the April 21 suicide attacks and wanted to be sure of the security situation before returning to daily services. "On the 5th of May we are going to begin (Sunday) masses," he said on Tuesday. "But we will start with a smaller number of masses and see if we can slowly increase it depending on how the situation develops." The cardinal, who is also Archbishop of Colombo, conducted a private memorial mass that was broadcast live on television last Sunday after cancelling all public services amid fears of a repeat of the attacks. Armed guards and an armored personnel carrier have been placed outside his Colombo residence as part of his security arrangements. But he said he has returned a bullet-proof limousine provided by the government and instead travelled in an ordinary car. "I am not afraid. I don't need bullet-proof vehicles to go about. The Lord is my protector," he said. "But, I want security for my people, and for the country." He said he had concerns about the progress of security operations against militants behind the worst single-day attack against civilians in the country's history. "There should be tougher laws to deal with those responsible for the attacks," the cardinal said. "We don't know the progress of the investigations. We are told that they have good information from suspects in custody, but I am not sure if they have the capacity to follow up." He said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned him on Tuesday morning to assure him that search operations were being conducted and that there was no let-up. — Agencies
