Sri Lanka has banned face coverings in public, following a spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 250 people and injured hundreds.
Almost a week after a series of bomb blasts ripped through three Sri Lankan cities, government authorities on Sunday ordered a complete prohibition on all types of face covers including burqas.
The decision to ban all types of burqas and face covers was approved by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena after several bombs ripped through the island nation on April 21.
The information was conveyed late on Sunday via an official press release. The release said: "Any form of face covering that will hinder the identification of a person is banned under emergency regulations."
"A decision has been taken by the president to ban all forms of face covering that will hinder easy identification under emergency regulations," it added.
The move to ban face covers, burqas and masks comes after a Sri Lankan parliamentarian submitted a private members' motion for the same.
In fact, an organisation of Muslim clerics named All Cetlon Jamiyyathul Ulama also asked women to avoid wearing a burqa/niqab in order to help security forces.
Earlier in the day, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe also said that he was not against the ban on burqa. A situation of emergency has been declared in the island nation since the bombings that claimed over 250 lives, including some Indians.
At least 500 people were injured in the serial bombings as well. While the move is expected to make lives easier for the security personnel, not all from the Muslim community in the island nation may be happy with the fresh decision.
Earlier in the day, India Today TV reported that many Muslims across Sri Lanka are already concerned about their safety as they are being targeted by mobs.
While many Muslim women in the country have stopped wearing the bura, some have stopped sending out their children to play.
The bombings on April 21 came as a shock to the island nation, especially becuase the attack occured on Easter.
Sri Lanka has blamed local terror outfit National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) for the attack, adding that the organisation was backed by the Islamic State.
At least 9 suicide bombers were responsible for the deadliest attack in Sri Lanka in a decade. Three churches and three five-star hotels were primarily targeted in the attacks.
How many people are affected?
Sri Lanka has a sizeable and centuries-old Muslim population - out of 21 million, just under 10% are Muslim.
Only a small number of women are thought to wear the face-covering niqab, or the burka - a one-piece veil that covers the face and body.
Last week a Sri Lankan MP had proposed a ban on women wearing the burqa, saying it should be outlawed on security grounds.
According to news outlet India Today, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, an organisation of Muslim clerics in Sri Lanka, had also asked women to avoid wearing face coverings.
Over the weekend thousands of Sri Lankan troops stood guard on the streets, protecting churches and mosques.
Sunday church services were cancelled across the country as a precaution, but worshippers in the capital gathered to pray outside St Anthony's Shrine, which was badly damaged in the attacks.
The number of people arrested in connection with the bloodshed rose to 150. Sri Lankan authorities are also hunting for around 140 followers of the jihadist group Islamic State, which has said it was involved in the bombings, but has not given details.
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