The death toll from the blasts has risen to 207, according to a police spokesman.
450 people were injured in eight coordinated attacks across the country Sunday.
Sri Lanka attack death toll rises to 290
By Euan McKirdy, Sheena McKenzie, Caitlin Hu, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Harmeet Kaur, Jessie Yeung and Meg Wagner, CNN
Updated 6:23 PM ET, Fri June 21, 2019
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BREAKING: Death toll rises to 207
BREAKING: Death toll rises to 160
At least 160 people “including perhaps close to 30 foreigners” have been killed in the attacks, according to Sri Lankan Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva, following discussion with defense officials.
Seven people are also under arrest, according to Defense Minister, Ruwan Wijewarden.
Facebook and Instagram blocked amid false news reports
The Sri Lankan government has temporarily blocked social media sites including Facebook and Instagram, according to officials.
The Presidential Secretariat said in a statement that the decision to block social media was taken in reaction to false news reports spreading on social media.
The statement added that security forces were conducting comprehensive investigations into the explosions, and that the social media block would continue until investigations were concluded.
Curfew takes immediate effect amid ongoing attacks
From Sandun Arosha F'do in Colombo and Will Ripley in Hong Kong
A 12-hour curfew has been implemented across the country as the government tries to prevent more injuries in ongoing attacks.
The curfew will be in place until further notice, according to Ruwan Gunasekara, Attorney-at-law Superintendent of Police. Schools will also be closed for the next two days.
The Sri Lankan government is now trying to keep people away from areas where they could be targeted, with police called back from their Easter breaks to help manage the situation.
"This is still an active and unfolding situation, with reports of the eighth bombing coming in the last hour -- so they're not out of the woods yet," said CNN's Will Ripley.
"We don't know who's responsible because no one is yet to come forward. But it was clearly a coordinated attack on multiple fronts."
Of the eight explosions:
- 4 targeted hotels
- 3 targeted churches
- 1 targeted a house
Whoever is behind the attacks, was "targeting Christians who are celebrating Easter and foreigners who are in hotels," added Ripley.
The government is now "trying to get to grips with the situation and prevent more people being hurt," he said.
President Trump corrects his tweet on Sri Lanka death toll
From CNN's Kevin Bohn
US President Donald Trump has issued a new tweet saying 138 people have been killed in the explosions in Sri Lanka. In an earlier tweet on Sunday he misstated the number as 138 million.
CNN is currently reporting that at least 140 have been killed and more than 560 injured.
Sri Lanka has a total population of around 21.7 million.
Pope offers condolences for Christians targeted "while gathered in prayer"
From CNN’s Valentina DiDonato in Rome
The first wave of attacks struck at the heart of Sri Lanka's minority Christian community during busy Easter services at churches in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa on Sunday morning.
Pope Francis condemned the attacks during his Easter Sunday address in Rome, offering his condolences to "the victims of such cruel violence."
“I learned with great sadness the news of the serious attacks that, today, on Easter they brought mourning and pain to some churches and other Sri Lankan hangouts,” he said.
“I wish to show my affectionate closeness to the Christian community, hit while gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence. I entrust to the Lord those who have tragically been lost and I pray for the wounded and all those who suffer because of this dramatic event.” moment of silence for prayer.”
See here:
Where the attacks happened
Eight blast sites have been reported across Sri Lanka, including four in central Colombo.
"We’re thinking of our brothers in Sri Lanka," says Archbishop of Paris at Easter Sunday mass
The Archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit, referenced Sri Lanka as he began Easter Mass in Saint Eustache church this morning.
"We’re thinking of our brothers in Sri Lanka, who were slaughtered this morning," he said.
The French capital suffered a devastating fire to its iconic Notre Dame cathedral earlier in the week. Donations have poured in to restore the 850-year-old structure.
BREAKING: Eighth explosion confirmed
Another explosion -- the eighth of the day -- was reported at a house in Mahawila Gardens, Dematagoda, where a fire was also reported.
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardene told press that action will be taken to stop the activity of all extremist groups in the country.
The seventh and eighth explosions, which took place in the Dehiwela and Dematagoda areas, seemed to be committed by "those responsible for the attacks running from the law," according to Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Harsha de Silva.