Police in Jaffna prohibited residents from putting up black flags during Tuesday’s island-wide day of mourning for the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, claiming the black flags seemed like a protest against the Sri Lankan government.

Nelliyadi police forced locals to take down black flags and tried to encourage them to put up white flags in memory of the victim instead.

Anger has been mounting as the government sought to deflect blame about failures in intelligence leading to the attacks.

Earlier this week Mannar police had also tried to take down black flags put in public places but were faced with resistance by residents and local traders.

<p>Emergency Regulations were passed without a vote, as reports of further terror threats were discussed in Sri Lanka's parliament, &nbsp;on Wednesday.</p> <p>The emergency regulations, labelled as draconian and problematic by many, are said to invest police and security forces with the power to take effective measures to safeguard the island, as well as giving the President sweeping executive powers.</p> <p>The regulations are set to be in place for 30 days, reports Colombo Page.</p>

<p>Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has requested that the police chief and defence secretary step down following the Easter Sunday bombings which killed 359 people.</p> <p>This was reported by two sources close to the president who wish to maintain their anonymity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Read more <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-police/sri-lankan-p…">here</a>.</p>

<p>US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, has said that the US had no prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday bombings which claimed over 350 lives and wounded an approximate 500.</p> <p>This statement follows from rumours that foreign officials had had prior warning.</p> <p>Speaking to foreign reporters she said, “clearly there was some failure in the system” as the Sri Lankan government had intelligence on the attack prior to the actual attack.</p> <p>Responding to questions she said; “We did not know because believe me, if we had, we would have tried to do something about”.&nbsp;</p>

A Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian said there are “serious questions” regarding the Governor of the Eastern Province and his links to the National Thowheed Jamaath, a lesser known jihadist group that has been blamed by Sri Lankan authorities for the Easter Sunday bombings that have killed over 300 people.

Addressing parliament this morning, TNA MP M A Sumanthiran also said Sri Lanka’s president “has now become the first person who should take responsibility for attacks” after it was revealed Sri Lankan authorities had prior warning of the attacks.

A man was arrested in Mullaitivu in connection with the bomb blasts that killed over 300 people in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

The 35-year-old Muslim man from Maradankadawala, Kekirawa was taken for questioning by Puthukudiyiruppu police after reportedly behaving suspiciously in the town, and was placed under arrest shortly afterwards.

Vigil at St Mary's Cathedral, Jaffna

Organisations and public bodies across the North-East held vigils for the victims of the Easter Sunday blasts which killed over 300 people in Batticaloa and Colombo.

British Tamils held a Hindu vigil at Ealing Amman temple in London earlier today, in tribute to the victims of the bomb blasts in Batticaloa and Sri Lanka.

MP Virendra Sharma, the representative of Southall and Ealing, spoke at the temple commemorating the lives lost.

The death toll was last confirmed at 290 although many remained missing or unaccounted for.

View the MP's statement here.

<p>The UK Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has displaced a small team of specialists to aid Sri Lanka, including&nbsp;family liaison officers to assist the families of British victims and the repatriation of deceased British nationals.</p> <p>Acting Commander Alexis Boon, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command requested any footage or images taken before, during or after the bombing for examination.</p> <p>The Met Police have also asked witnesses of the attack to contact police on a confidential basis.</p> <p>In a statement to MPs, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:</p> <blockquote><p>

<p>Human Rights Watch has called upon to follow “due process” ensuring that arrests are made according to international standards and that restrictions on the freedom of speech are done “for a legitimate reason” and are “proportionate”.</p> <p>This follows the Easter Sunday bombings in which close to 300 were killed and approximate 500 injured.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Sri Lankan state has responded by announcing a state of emergency, which would come into force on April 23 allowing security officials to make arrests without charge, and blocking several social media platforms.&nbsp;</p>