Colombo: The Sri Lankan Parliament has unanimously approved the formation of a select committee to look into the factors that led to the Easter Sunday bombings. The committee is also expected to come up with possible measures to avoid such attacks in the future, according to media reports.

The motion to set up the 12-member committee, was passed unanimously in Parliament on Wednesday (May 23). The Speaker will nominate the committee chairperson and its members.

News reports in the island country said that the committee is also expected to investigate whether the law enforcement authorities possessed prior intelligence relating to the attacks, if there were deficiencies in the state machinery that led to such attacks or whether any other factors contributed to such terrorist attacks.

It will have powers to fix its quorum, demand papers and records, summon any person to Parliament or before the committee.

It will also have powers to interview witnesses under oath, conduct meetings outside Parliament in any part of the country and to obtain the services of specialists and experts in relevant fields to assist the committee.

The committee will be given the authority to submit interim reports and to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of Parliament. The committee will have to present a report to Parliament within three months of the date of its first sitting, the report said.

When millions across the world gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday, nine suicide bombers, including a woman, carried out a series of devastating blasts across three churches and three luxury hotels.

The attack claimed the lives of 258 people, including 45 children, and injured over 500 others.