Sri Lanka Catholic church holds first Sunday Mass since Easter bombings

COLOMBO, May 12 (MENA) - The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has held the first regular Sunday Mass since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels killed more than 250 people, ABC news reported.

Military forces and police armed with assault rifles patrolled the streets leading to churches and stood guard outside the compounds.

Everyone entering was required to produce identity cards and be body searched.

Volunteers were stationed at the gates of churches to identify parishioners and look out for any suspicious individuals.

Parking was banned near the churches and officials urged worshipers to bring only minimum baggage.

Seven suicide bombers struck two Catholic and one Protestant church and three luxury hotels in the attacks last month.