Sri Lanka on Tuesday imposed a state of emergency.

 

斯里兰卡周二宣布进入紧急状态。

 

Twenty-four people have been arrested over the coordinated¹ Easter Sunday assault on multiple churches and hotels in the capital Colombo and beyond, authorities said.

 

The carnage -- which also left some 500 people injured -- was the worst atrocity² since the South Asian country's civil war ended a decade ago.

 

The attacks were also the worst ever against Sri Lanka's small Christian³ minority, who make up just seven percent of the country's population of 21 million.

 

Investigators⁴ are now hunting for clues on whether the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) group received "international support", said cabinet minister and government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.

 

The spokesman added that it was not possible for such "a small organisation⁵" to carry out such well coordinated suicide strikes.

 

The state of emergency, which gave police and the military special powers to counter militant⁶ strikes, came into force at midnight (1830 GMT Monday). Suspects can be detained without a court order.

 

The country was already observing a second straight night-time curfew since the attacks.

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