British Intelligence Aids Sri Lanka

St Anthony's church in Colombo was targeted (Picture: PA).

Britain's intelligence services have been called on to help investigate the Sri Lankan bomb blasts.

The country's defence minister has confirmed UK government agents are now on the ground, aiding local police inquiries.

The government in Colombo has acknowledged major lapses in intelligence contributed to the failure to prevent the deadly suicide bombings.

President Maithripala Sirisena has asked his defence secretary and police chief to resign for failing to pass on warnings about the attacks. 

One of the suicide bombers behind the attacks studied in the south east of England in 2006 and 2007.

Together with eight others, he co-ordinated blasts which claimed the lives of 359 people on Easter Sunday.

The so-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombings, which are believed to be the most lethal ever conducted by the group.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the terror attacks on Sunday could have been prevented had key intelligence been passed on correctly.

There had been warnings that churches could be targeted 10 days beforehand.

Another top government official said the suicide bombings at the churches, hotels and other sites were carried out by Islamic fundamentalists in apparent retaliation for the New Zealand mosque massacre last month.