Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardena has described the eight blasts as a terrorist attack carried out by religious extremists, although no one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Dramatic details have emerged of a police raid following the eighth blast.

Three police officers were killed while conducting a search operation at a suspected militant hideout in Dematagoda, on the outskirts of Colombo, where the last of eight blasts took place, according to AP.