Sri Lanka's defense secretary resigns following suicide bombing attacks

COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has resigned following the multiple terror attacks on Sunday which killed 359 people and injured over 500 others, local media reported Thursday.

Fernando tendered his resignation following a request by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Sirisena on Wednesday evening asked for the resignations of Fernando and Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara following reports of severe security lapses.

According to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the police had received prior information of possible terror attacks but adequate measures had not been taken.

Wickremesinghe said he or his cabinet of ministers had not been kept informed of the prior threats and on Tuesday, President Sirisena said he too had not been kept informed. Sirisena has launched an investigation into it.

Sirisena has vowed to change the heads of the defense forces and restructure the police and security forces in the coming weeks.