Ahead of PM Modi's visit to Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church on Easter Sunday, Fr. Francis Swaminathan said the visit will demonstrate his support for the minorities.
The name Holy Week was used in the 4th century by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia. Originally, only Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed as holy days.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Director Legal, Hariguptha Rohanadheera, stated that the accused have been charged for carrying out suicide bomb blasts at eight locations, including three churches and three-star hotels in Colombo.
51 worshippers were shot dead in mosque attacks in the New Zealand city of Christchurch while more than 250 people died in Sri Lanka as a result of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday.
Expressing China's strong condemnation of the terror attacks in Sri Lanka, Xi said China is ready to stand alongside the Sri Lankan government and people.
Police said they found an ISIS flag and uniforms similar to those worn by the eight fighters for the video before they launched the attacks.
A person arrested in Dambulla has been identified as the second-in-command of the terror network operated by local Muslim group, the National Thowheed Jamath.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Islamic religious affairs minister has appealed to Muslims to avoid gathering for Friday prayers and urged them to pray at home.
Security forces had been on a desperate hunt for Hashim, believed to be around 40, after the government named the group he led -- the National Thowheeth Jama'ath -- as its prime suspect.
Sirisena's announcement comes after Fernando, who came under fire with regard to a statement he made over the terror attacks and the way he handled the situation, tendered his resignation to the President on Thursday night.
