Leave my country alone, Sri Lanka president tells Islamic State

FILE PHOTO: Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena looks on during a special party convention in Colombo, Sri Lanka December 4, 2018. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to "leave my country alone".

Sirisena also warned it may be possible Islamic State had launched a "new strategy" by targeting smaller countries, Sky New said on Wednesday.