Controlled explosion near Savoy Cinema in Colombo today, serial blasts death toll rises to 359: Sri Lanka Defence Minister

Wijewardene also informed the media about the increased number of deaths in the series of "heinous and cowardly" terrorist attacks that were committed on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka against innocent civilians.

Sri Lanka's Def Min, Ruwan Wijewardene on explosion near Savoy Cinema in Colombo today. (ANI)

New Delhi: Days after the "inhumane" terror attack rocked Sri Lanka, an explosion was reported at Savoy cinema in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo today morning. However, it was later confirmed by Sri Lanka's Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, it was not a bomb. The country's Special Task Force detected a suspicious motorbike which they tried to open the seat but it had got stuck. They then decided to have a controlled blast, the minister informed. While addressing the media today, the minister said, "Special Task Force detected a suspicious motorbike and they had gone up to it. They had tried to open the seat but it had got stuck. They decided to have a controlled blast. So, it's not a bomb."

Sri Lanka's Def Min, Ruwan Wijewardene on explosion near Savoy Cinema in Colombo today: Special Task Force detected a suspicious motorbike&they had gone up to it. They had tried to open the seat but it had got stuck. They decided to have a controlled blast. So, it's not a bomb. pic.twitter.com/HLafHJVJni

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2019

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Briefing foreign corrrspondents on the current situation in #SriLanka https://t.co/tFZU0Wv7J3

— Ruwan Wijewardene (@RWijewardene) April 24, 2019

Wijewardene further informed the media about the increased number of deaths in the series of "heinous and cowardly" terrorist attacks that were committed on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka against innocent civilians. "The death toll has risen to 359, of which 39 are foreign nationals. 17 bodies have been identified of the foreigners & have been released to their families. Investigation is still being conducted," the minister informed. Nine suicide bombers were involved, 8 have been identified, while 60 persons have been arrested, all of them are Sri Lankans, he said.

Sri Lanka's Defence Minister, Ruwan Wijewardene on #SriLankaBombings : The death toll has risen to 359, of which 39 are foreign nationals. 17 bodies have been identified of the foreigners & have been released to their families. Investigation is still being conducted. pic.twitter.com/XFPqSx2yHf

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2019

Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed one of the suicide bombers who carried out a terrorist attack in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday attended an Australian university. Top intelligence officials deliberately hid information on Sri Lanka attacks, top security officials did not take action. Sri Lanka minister and former army chief said Easter Sunday attacks must have been planned for at least 7-8 years.