Sri Lanka bans face coverings after Easter bombings

Sri Lanka bans face coverings after Easter bombings

Following the spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds in Sri Lanka, the country has now banned

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Following the spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds in Sri Lanka, the country has now banned face coverings in public. President Maithripala Sirisena said he was using an emergency law to impose the restriction from Monday.

Any face garment which hinders identification will be banned to ensure security, his office said. Muslim leaders have however criticised the move even though the niqab and burka, face coverings worn by Muslim women were not specifically named.

Sri Lanka remains on high alert eight days after Islamist attacks that hit churches and hotels. Dozens of suspects have been arrested, but local officials have warned that more militants remain at large.