The sudden deterioration of the security situation in Sri Lanka has come as a shock to its people. Five days after a series of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday killed more than 250 people, injured over 500, wrecked three Christian churches and caused substantial damage to three five-star hotels, Sri Lanka continues to be in a state of siege. A night-time curfew has been declared and there is vastly reduced traffic on the usually packed Colombo roads.

Rumours of further attacks are spread wildly and widely, forcing the government to ask people only to listen to official police warnings. The little-known National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), which has been identified as the source of the suicide bombers, has about 150 members. It is feared that many of them might be potential bombers. There is a high-priority security search for them. Until they are all found, the danger of another suicide bombing will remain.