Sri Lanka’s health ministry has revised the death toll from Sunday’s bombings down from 359 to 253 saying some of the “badly mutilated bodies” had been double-counted.

In a statement, the ministry said once all autopsies were completed and cross-referenced with DNA samples, an earlier toll released by the police was reduced by 106.

The ministry did not break down the new tally in terms of locals and foreigners.

The British foreign office has advised UK citizens against “all but essential” travel to Sri Lanka, warning “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks” in the country.

“Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners,” the updated travel advice said.

“Following the horrific attacks on Easter Sunday, and the ongoing Sri Lankan security operation, I have ... decided to update the travel advice to British nationals to Sri Lanka to advise against all but essential travel,” said Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary.

Father of suspected Easter suicide bombers arrested

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told The Associated Press news agency that the father of two of Sunday's alleged suicide bombers has been arrested on suspicion of aiding his sons in carrying out the attacks.

Wickremesinghe said the father is a “leading businessman” and “active in politics”.

He also warned that some people believed by authorities to be linked with the attacks were still at large and may possess explosives, despite police having already detained “a lot of suspects”.

•Photo shows Nuns attend a prayer meeting to show solidarity with the victims of Sri Lanka's bomb blasts, outside a church in Kolkata, India [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters] (Aljazeera)

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