Sri Lanka terror attacks: Defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando quits

A day after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena asked the police chief and defence secretary to quit, Hemasiri Fernando, the defence secretary resigned in the wake of terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday which killed at least 359 people.

Fernandosaid that while there had been no failure on his own part, he was taking responsibility for failures of some institutions he headed as the secretary of defence.

The defence secretary addedthat security agencies were actively responding to intelligence they had about the possibility of attacks before they were launched.

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"We were working on that. All those agencies were working on that," he said.

Lakshman Kiriella, minister of public enterprise had told Parliament on Wednesday that theinformation on possible suicide attacks on churches, hotels and politicians were received from Indian intelligence on April 4 and a Security Council meeting was chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena on April 7, but the information was not shared more widely.

"Somebody is controlling these top intelligence officials," the minister said. "The Security Council is doing politics. We need to investigatethis."

Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had confirmed earlier that hat India had offered specific intelligence about an impending attack.

India had warned Sri Lanka of jihadi threat, the PM had confirmed.

The Sri Lankan PM added that "there has always been sharing of information between our two countries with regard to terrorism. There was specific intelligence on this".

At least 36 foreigners have been killed in the attack, with India accounting for 11 victims - the highest death toll so far. The Sri Lankan foreign ministry said 14 foreigners were still missing.

Meanwhile, a senior priest said all of Sri Lanka's Catholic churches have been ordered to stay closed and suspend services until security improves after deadly Easter bombings.

Amid continued heavy security, residents go about their daily lives but many shops remained closed near the blast site. Sri Lankan and international authorities have also focused their investigations on international links to domestic Islamist groups - National Thawheed Jama'ut and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim.

Islamic State(IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack two days ago.

Minister for Muslim religious affairs Abdul haleem Mohammed Hashim has issued a letter to Muslim calling not to attend Friday Jummah prayers.

In a letter, he said, "As a sign of solitary with the Catholic community & a show of protest against the barbaric act of the ruthless terrorist I appeal to my Muslim brothers to avoid gathering for congregational prayers (on Friday) but to pray in homes instead, for peace and security of our motherland."

Adding, "we stand with Christian brothers and sisters during their times of grief"

US embassy in Sri Lanka has issued advisory. Quoting Sri Lankan authorities, the embassy said, govt is reporting that additional attacks may occur targeting places of worship and asked Americans to avoid specific areas over the weekend, starting Friday the April 26^ththrough Sunday, April 28^th.