COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to "leave my country alone". Sirisena also warned it may be possible Islamic State had launched a "new strategy" by targeting smaller countries, Sky New said on Wednesday. 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. The suicide bombings on hotels and churches killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals. In the Sky News interview, Sirisena said he had a message for Islamic State: "Leave my country alone."

Source: The Star May 01, 2019 07:14 UTC