Sri Lanka attacks: Mass funerals held as nation mourns

The first mass funerals were held on Tuesday as Sri Lanka marks a day of mourning for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 321 people.

The mass funeral was held at the St Sebastian's church in Negombo, north of Colombo, which was one of the places targeted in the deadly suicide blasts, local media reported.

The funerals were held at the damaged church in western Sri Lanka, where as many as 100 parishioners were killed by a suicide bomber, it said.

Earlier, a moment of silence was observed, reflecting the time the first of six bombs detonated.

Flags were lowered to half mast and people bowed their heads in silence in respect to the victims as well as the 500 people injured in the attacks.

The funeral comes amid a state of emergency which was imposed on Monday, the report added.

The police have so far detained 40 suspects in connection with the attacks, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed a series of bombings that killed more than 321 people in Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Ministry said it had identified 31 foreign nationals among the dead, including 10 Indians, while 14 others remained unaccounted for.