Sri Lankans across the island nation observed three minutes of silence early Tuesday to pay tribute to nearly 300 people killed in a string of suicide attacks.
Colombo - Sri Lanka began a day of national mourning Tuesday with three minutes of silence to honour more than 300 people killed in suicide bomb blasts that have been blamed on a local Islamist group.
Shortly after the silence was observed, a police spokesman said the toll had risen to 310, with several people dying of their injuries overnight. Some of them struggled to hold back tears and as the three minutes drew to a close, the crowd began to chant prayers. Investigators are now hunting for clues on whether the local Islamist group named as the chief suspect - National Thowheeth Jama'ath - received "international support", said cabinet minister and government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.
The state of emergency, which gave police and the military special powers to counter militant strikes, came into force at midnight . Suspects can be detained without a court order.Officials are also investigating why more precautions were not taken after an April 11 warning from Sri Lanka's police that a "foreign intelligence agency" had reported the NTJ planned suicide attacks on churches.
The United States reported at least four Americans killed -- including a child -- and the Netherlands raised their toll to three. Eight Britons, eight Indians and nationals from Turkey, Australia, France, Japan and Portugal, were also killed, according to Sri Lankan officials and foreign governments.
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