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After the Easter Sunday terror attacks, Sri Lanka intensified its efforts to clamp down on terrorism and ensure safety of its people with a ban on burqa and covering of face in public places.
The coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants at hotels and churches killed more than 250 people and sent shockwaves through an Indian Ocean island state that had enjoyed relative peace since a civil war ended a decade ago.
The shootout between troops and suspected Islamist militants erupted on Friday evening in Sainthamaruthu in Ampara, to the south of the town of Batticaloa, site of one of the Easter Sunday blasts at three churches and four luxury hotels.
Sri Lankan Islamist extremist Zahran Hashim, said to be the top leader of an IS linked local militant group that carried out the Easter Sunday bombings, died in the blast at the Shangri-La hotel, President Maithripala Sirisena said Friday.
Among those killed, six were Indians, including a Keralite who was identified as P S Razina Khadar, 58, a native of Mogralputhur in Kasaragod district.
Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene blamed inaccurate data provided by morgues for the discrepancy.
The Easter Sunday suicide bomber attacks on the island state killed 359 people and wounded about 500.
Former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake is being considered for the post of Defence Secretary.
Woman bomber identified among nine bombers in Sri Lanka blasts
The US State Department said possible targets in Sri Lanka included tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping malls, hotels, places of worship, airports and other public areas.