In Pics: Sri Lanka Mourns as Mass Funerals Held Across Country

Sri Lanka has been in a state of shock and mourning since the deadly Easter Sunday mass bombings.

Relatives place flowers after the burial of three victims of the same family, who died during the Easter Sunday bomb blast at St Sebastian Church.

(Photo: AP)

The Island nation of Sri Lanka has been in a state of shock, ever since a series of bombings occurred across the country’s churches and hotels, on Easter Sunday, killing at least 359 and injuring hundreds more. It became the deadliest attack Sri Lanka has ever witnessed.

The Islamic State, on Tuesday, 23 April, claimed responsibility and released images that purported to show the seven bombers who blew themselves up.

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has admitted the lapse in the country’s system. It has been reported that while some of the country's security units were aware of the possible attacks, they did not share those warnings or disseminate further information.

Sunday’s bombings are the worst violence this South Asian island nation has seen, since its civil war ended a decade ago.

People light candles in remembrance of the 359 who died as a result of the bombings.

Relatives place flowers after the burial of three victims of the same family, who died at Easter Sunday bomb blast at St. Sebastian Church.

PM Wickremesinghe said that investigators were still working to determine the extent of the bombers' foreign links.

Relatives light candles after the burial of three victims of the same family, who died at Easter Sunday bomb blast at St Sebastian Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

In an address to the Parliament, Ruwan Wijewardene, the state minister of defence, said that "weakness" within Sri Lanka's security apparatus had led to the failure in preventing the bombings.

Sri Lankans carry coffins bearing the remains of Berington Joseph, left, and Burlington Bevon, right, who were killed in the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

People attend the Mass at St Adalbert’s RC Church in Staten Island borough of New York. 

Baby Joseph Gomes prays, standing next to coffins of his family members killed in the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, 23 April 2019. Gomes lost five members of his family.

A candle-light ceremony near a mass burial spot for those killed in the Easter Mass bombings in Sri Lanka.

University of Dubuque professor Rasika Mudalige-Jayawickrama, centre left, takes a moment as she and her husband Lalith Jayawickrama, right, attend a vigil at Blades Chapel on the University of Dubuque campus on Tuesday, 23 April.

A mass burial ceremony for the victims of the mass bombings that killed at least 359 people.

A man prays for those killed in the mass bombings, during a burial ceremony in Colombo.

A funeral ceremony for one of the victims of the Sri Lanka mass bombings.

A Pakistani woman lights candles during a vigil for the victims of bomb explosions in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

Officers of Special Task Force search for explosives ahead of mass burials at a burial ground for the blast victims in Negombo.

Family members gather at a funeral of an Easter Sunday bomb blast victim at Methodist cemetery in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

The island nation has been in a state of deep mourning.

A mourner lights candles during a funeral of Easter Sunday suicide bomb blast victim at Methodist cemetery in Sri Lanka’s Negombo.

Relatives weep near the coffin carrying the remains of 12-year-old Sneha Savindi, who was a victim of the Easter Sunday bombing at St Sebastian Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

A man prays, sitting amid newly buried graves of Easter Sunday bomb blast victims at the Methodist burial ground in Negombo, Sri Lanka.