People attend special prayers for the victims of bomb explosions in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday April 22, 2019. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Around 500 people were wounded in the blasts, Ruwan Gunasekera said in a statement. The update came as the country began a day of national mourning with three minutes of silence. Authorities said 40 people were now under arrest in connection with the attacks, which Sri Lanka's government has blamed on a previously little-known local militant group, National Thowheeth Jama'ath.

The UN Security Council has condemned the  terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday and called for holding perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and to bring them to justice. US President Donald Trump on Monday described the attacks in Sri Lanka as the bloodiest terror attacks since the September 11 attacks in the US 18 years ago. White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley says Trump called Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and pledged support to bring the perpetrators to justice. In their latest announcement, Sri Lankan authorities said at least 31 foreigners from 12 countries died in the attacks.