COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police said they detained 18 more people for questioning over the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels, as the death toll climbed again to 359, media reports said.

The Islamic State (IS) made its claim after Sri Lankan officials said the bombings were carried out in retaliation for attacks on two mosques in New Zealand that killed 50 people in March.

Sri Lankan police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera informed that the death toll had risen to 359 from 321 overnight. (Agencies)