Sri Lanka's Catholics have celebrated Sunday mass in their homes as churches remain shut over fears of further militant attacks.

Members of the public watched a televised broadcast of the service from their homes, a week after Easter Sunday bombings in hotels and churches across the island killed more than 250 people.

Cardinal Malcolm Randith, the archbishop of Colombo, delivered a homily from a small chapel at his residence.

"This is a time our hearts are tested by the great destruction that took place last Sunday," he said.

"This is a time questions such as, does God truly love us, does He have compassion towards us, can arise in human hearts."


The Mass was attended by President Maithripala Sirisena, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa - a rare show of unity in a fearful time for the nation.

Image: St Anthony's Shrine was one of the churches targeted

The US embassy in Colombo has urged worshippers not to attend any services at places of worship this weekend.

Sajith Liyanage, a 51-year-old Catholic, said he was worried about the situation and would watch mass on TV.

"We can't understand what the situation is right now," he said.

Soldiers guarded St Mary Magdalene's Church in the eastern district of Ampara, where a gunfight and explosions left 15 people - including six children - dead.

A sign on the gate said the church and school would be closed until 6 May, while a nearby mosque also had soldiers stationed outside.

On Friday, the country's president said police were searching for 140 suspects thought to have links with the Islamic State terrorist group, which has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Image: Bomb-making equipment was found in the raids

But on Saturday Sky News reporter Neville Lazarus, who is in the capital Colombo, said that 80 of these suspects have been arrested and were being questioned.

During the raid in Ampara on Friday night, the wife and daughter of a suspect were critically injured and are being treated in hospital.

Police said that at least some of the dead are thought to have been militants.

The raid took place at a suspected safe house in the east of the country and, as police approached, those inside opened fire and set off explosions.

One of those who had a relative taken in a raid is Mohammed Hanifa Muinueedn, who told Sky News: "If he is connected to this incident then he should be punished but my feeling is who has taken him? We don't know.

"Security forces? Or somebody else? We don't know."

Image: Funerals have been taking place for the hundreds of people killed

Sky News Asia correspondent Tom Cheshire, who is also in Colombo, said: "Right now, to authorities, security seems more important than accountability.

"It's a worrying echo of the bad old days and ways of the civil war - when people simply disappeared."

Meanwhile, video footage has emerged of the moment one of the bombs was detonated in Colombo's Kingsbury Hotel.

The Kingsbury was one of three hotels targeted by the bombers.

The video, from the hotel's CCTV, shows the bomber checking in at the reception desk a day earlier, getting in a lift and then unlocking the door to his room.

Later it shows the hotel's restaurant as the bomb is detonated, sending glass and furniture flying before the room is engulfed by smoke.

It is a graphic reminder of the destruction Sri Lankan authorities hope to prevent in future.

Sailors from the country's navy have been drafted in to clean up the churches and hotels targeted by the bombers but Cheshire said: "It's clearly very hard work.

"Nearly a week after the attacks, it should be a symbol of recovery and rebuilding but right now Sri Lanka simply does not have that freedom."