China sends 'deep condolences' to Sri Lanka

Reuters said President Sirisena was to ask for foreign assistance in tracking any international links to the series of attacks.

The Sri Lankan government imposed a new curfew from 8 pm on Monday to 4 am on Tuesday, according to a local police source.

Agence France-Presse said 35 foreigners were killed in the blasts, including Chinese, British, US, Turkish, Indian, Danish, Dutch and Portuguese nationals, while Sri Lankans accounted for most of those killed or injured.

Xinhua, citing an update from the Chinese embassy, reported on Monday that one Chinese citizen had been killed, five were missing and five injured.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang confirmed on Monday that Chinese citizens were dead or missing after the explosions. Five Chinese were injured but were in stable condition, he said.

The ministry and the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka initiated an emergency response plan immediately after the explosions to check on Chinese casualties and locate the missing, Geng said.

Long Xingchun, director of the Center for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, said the attack was rare for Sri Lanka "in terms of its skill, intensity and ferocity".

Since tourism is an important sector of Sri Lanka's economy, the attacks will undoubtedly hurt the tourism industry and economic development in Sri Lanka in the near future, Long added.