Sri Lanka’s president said Daesh may have started a “new strategy” Officials believe members of two local militant groups were involved in the attacks A foreign mastermind may have planned the Sri Lankan Easter Sunday bombings, President Maithripala Sirisena told Sky News. Sirisena also warned it may be possible Daesh has launched a “new strategy” by targeting smaller countries, Sky News said on Wednesday. The April 21 attacks on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals. Authorities suspect members of two previously little-known groups — National Thowheed Jamaath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim — of carrying out the attacks, although Daesh has claimed responsibility.