<p>The Sri Lankan government will declare a state of emergency from midnight on Monday, in the wake of a series of bombings that killed at least 290 people on Easter Sunday.</p> <p>In an official announcement, Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division stated that &nbsp;Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena&nbsp;“anti-terrorism clauses” will be effective from midnight.</p> <p>“This step has been taken to empower police to take effective measures to safeguard security of the people and the country,” it added.</p>

The United States offered its “deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed” in a press statement by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.

<p>A pipe bomb was found and safely defused at Sri Lanka’s main international&nbsp;airport earlier today.</p> <p>Speaking to the Sunday Times on Easter Sunday, Airforce Spokesperson Gihan Seneviratne said,</p> <p>“A PVC pipe which was six feet in length containing explosives was discovered.”</p>

<p>Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe missed out on foreign intelligence warnings of imminent attacks due to an ongoing feud with Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena.</p> <p>The news comes following a briefing by Health Minster Rajitha Senaratne, who said the premier had been kept out of intelligence briefings, and not been told of a report on April 11 that outlined foreign intelligence warnings of attacks on churches by a domestic militant group called the National Thawheed Jama’ut.</p>

Jaffna University teaching hospital was flooded with blood donors earlier today as the teaching hospital started an emergency blood donor drive.

Local community members poured through the hospital to donate blood over the course of Easter Sunday, to assist ongoing emergency medical efforts for those affected by the bomb blasts.

 

Global Affairs Canada has described the current situation in Sri Lanka as “volatile” in a travel advisory released earlier today. 

The Canadian government also stated that “others attacks could occur throughout the country”. It called on Canadians to “be aware of how curfew may impact your movements, and limit them as much as possible”.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined a long list of world leaders responding to the attacks. 

<p>The Archbishop of Colombo has urged Sri Lankans not to take the law into their own hands in response to today's string of bomb blasts in Sri Lanka.</p> <p>In a statement today, the Archbishop of Colombo said, “it’s a very, very sad day for all of us.</p> <p>I wish to therefore express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to all those innocent families that have lost someone and also to those who have been injured and rendered destitute.&nbsp;</p> <p>I would like to call upon all to pray that all those who are injured may be healed soon and that all these families who have lost someone may be consoled.</p>

<p>The Tamil National Alliance has released a statement condemning the&nbsp;Easter Sunday bomb today.</p> <p>The <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/TNAmediaoffice/status/1119897132243329024?s=…">statement reads</a>:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <blockquote><p> "The horrific attacks that took place today targeting churches and hotels in Batticaloa and Colombo are an attack on all of us, not just some of us.</p>

An island-wide curfew has been declared by Sri Lankan miltiary and police following blasts in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

At a press conference earlier today, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defence, Ruwan WIjewardene said the government would impose an island wide curfew for the time being. 

While the curfew was initially announced as in operation between 6pm and 6am, the government took the decision to bring the curfew forward with immediate effect.

At least 160 have been killed in eight explosions, with the death toll rising.

The Prime Minister of India has condemned the bombings of churches and hotels in Batticaloa and Colombo which have killed over 150 this morning.

“Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka,” Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. “There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured.”

Eight explosions have been reported so far with the death toll rising. British and American citizens are reported to be among several foreign citizens killed.