Sri Lankan president bans Islamist groups following explosions

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has banned two Islamist groups suspected of being behind the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people, his office said on Saturday.

The National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) were banned under emergency regulations that came into effect this week following the bombings, Sirisena's office said in a statement.

Security officials have said the NTJ was suspected to be the main group that carried out the attacks.

Reuters