Sri Lanka’s president has pleaded with Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi to leave his country alone in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings.
In an interview with Sky News, Maithripala Sirisena warned the terror group may have launched a “new strategy” by targeting smaller countries.
He added that it is “quite possible” a foreign mastermind was behind the attacks.
“It is quite possible [the attackers] were in contact with people abroad,” he said.
“This is quite possible because of the calls they were making [during the attacks].”
Asked if he had a message for IS leader Al-Baghdadi, Sky News reported he was “very clear,” saying: “leave my country alone.”
The co-ordinated April 21 attacks on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.
In his first recorded interview in five years, Al-Baghdadi acknowledged defeat at Baghuz, the group's last stronghold in the region.
He added that the attacks were carried out as revenge for the fall of the Syrian town.
In the 18 minute video released late on Monday he said: "The battle for Baghuz is over," adding: "There will be more to come after this battle."
He also reportedly says the group is fighting a "battle of attrition".
The authenticity and date of the recording could not be independently verified.
Authorities suspect members of two previously little-known groups - National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim - of carrying out the attacks, although Islamic State has claimed responsibility.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday Baghdadi's appearance was an attempt to boost militants and that Islamic State would attempt to carry out more attacks.
Baghdadi, an Iraqi, is believed to be hiding out in an isolated area of either Iraq or Syria, part of vast desert regions Islamic State once held and from where it is thought the jihadists are now waging regular insurgent-style attacks against security forces in both countries.
Scores of suspected Islamists have been arrested since the attacks in Colombo.
The confirmed international casualties following the bombings were from the UK, Denmark, Portugal, India, Turkey, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Bangladesh, the US and China.
The government admitted a "major intelligence lapse" after it was revealed that an Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities.
The government has also banned women from wearing face veils under an emergency law that was put in place after the attacks.
