Sri Lanka’s prime minister has acknowledged that minority Ahmadi Muslims who are refugees from Pakistan have faced attacks since the Easter bombings.

The premier, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said security forces were trying to help the Ahmadis.

Mr Wickremesinghe said some people “had become suspicious of foreigners, not of Muslims per se.

“In the heat of the moment, a few have been attacked”.

Sri Lanka Blasts Muslim Fear
Ahmadi Muslim refugees form a human chain to pass food (Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP)

Sunday’s Islamic State-claimed suicide bombings killed over 350 people.

On Thursday, Ahmadis described how they have faced violence in the time since.

About 500 have fled their homes in Negombo and are living some 20 miles away under police protection.

Others live under police and military protection at the Ahmadi mosque in Negombo.