Sri Lanka lifts emergency

Colombo, August 23 

Sri Lanka on Friday withdrew an emergency law imposed after Easter Sunday attacks, a military spokesman said, signifying the return of calm to the island nation which is set to vote for a new president  before December 9.

President Maithripala Sirisena imposed emergency law in April after over 250 people in Islamist militant bombings on Easter day.

The army will continue to assist police for internal security, military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said. The emergency gave police and military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders. — Reuters