Lanka bans covering face with veils

Muslim women have been banned from wearing face veils under an emergency law passed by Sri Lanka's President; days after more than 250 people were killed in series of bombings in Colombo, report agencies.
A statement from the President's Media Division on Sunday said covering of the face with veils, in a manner that prevents identification of a person, will be banned from Monday under emergency regulations, the Hindu reports.
President Maithruipala Sisirsena said he was using an emergency law to impose the restriction from Monday, according to BBC.
Any face garment which "hinders identification" will be banned to ensure national security, his office said.
The niqab and burka - worn by Muslim women - were not specifically named. The move is perceived as targeting the garments, however, said the BBC.
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 warned that more militants remained at large.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan security officials have warned that Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday's suicide bombings are planning attacks and could be dressed in uniform, as the archbishop of Colombo complained about insufficient security around churches.The militants were targeting five locations for attacks on Sunday just passed or on Monday, security sources said.
"There could be another wave of attacks," the head of the police ministerial security division (MSD) said in a letter to lawmakers and other officials seen by Reuters on Monday.
"The relevant information further notes that persons dressed in military uniforms and using a van could be involved in the attacks."
There were no attacks on Sunday and security across Sri Lanka has been ramped up, with scores of suspected Islamists arrested since the April 21 attacks on hotels and churches that killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.
The government has also banned women from wearing face veils under an emergency law that was put in place after the attacks.