Elmo Fernando reporting from Colombo told BBC Sandeshaya that the deceased from the attack on the beach are believed to be students of two schools in the town.

The north and the east has been tense during last weeks as attacks escalated against the security forces.

More than 40 soldiers were killed and many more injured in bomb blasts in Jaffna and surrounding areas.

Tamil National Alliance(TNA) parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was killed in Batticaloa during the Christmas Mass.