SRI Lankan police say 207 people were killed and 450 wounded in a series of blasts in and around the country's capital.

Six nearly simultaneous blasts went off on Sunday morning in three churches where worshippers were celebrating Easter and in three luxury hotels frequented by foreign tourists.

Hours later, a blast at a guesthouse killed at least two people.

After an eighth explosion near an overpass in the area of Dematagoda on the outskirts of Colombo, the capital, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said three police officers were killed when they went to question suspects following a tip.

Two blasts went off shortly after the officers entered a house in Dematagoda.

St Anthony's Shrine and the three hotels where the blasts took place are in Colombo, and are frequented by foreign tourists.

Alex Agieleson, who was near the shrine, said buildings shook with the blast, and that a number of injured people were carried away in ambulances.

Local TV showed damage at the Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La and Kingsbury hotels.

Other blasts were reported at St Sebastian's Church in Negombo, a majority Catholic town north of Colombo, and at Zion Church in the eastern town of Batticaloa.

St Sebastian's appealed for help on its Facebook page.

The explosion ripped off the roof and knocked out doors and windows at St Sebastian's, where people carried the wounded away from blood-stained pews, local TV footage showed.

Sri Lankan security officials said they were investigating. Police immediately sealed off the areas.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has condemned "evil attacks" which have killed more than 100 people in the country on Easter Sunday.

James Dauris said he was in Colombo with his family at a church service which was cut short by the attacks.

He tweeted: "Our prayers for the victims of these evil attacks, and for their families. Our thoughts are with the medical staff, police and all involved in the response."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "My thoughts with the bereaved and injured, and all Sri Lankans at such a dark time".

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the "horrifying attacks".

He added: "To target those gathered for worship on Easter Sunday is particularly wicked.

"My prayers are with the victims and their families, and with those assisting in the response."

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner wrote: "Shocked and saddened by news of church and hotel bombings in Sri Lanka. Profound condolences to those who suffered in this terrorist attack, another attack on innocent people, truly awful news."

Her Labour colleague Mary Creagh posted on Twitter: "Sickening #EasterSunday #SriLanka terrorist attacks on churches & hotels. Terrible to target Christians celebrating our greatest feast day. My prayers are with victims, their families & everyone caught up in this cruel violence."

Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, wrote: "To target Christians on this their most sacred day is evil. Sending love to Sri Lankans caught in this terror."

Brexit minister James Cleverly wrote: "Sad and shocking news from Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the Sri Lankan community both here in the UK and around the world and to those who have lost friends or family in these terrible attacks."

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of reports of a number of explosions in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, and we are urgently seeking information from the local authorities.

"British nationals in Sri Lanka should follow the instructions of the local authorities and check FCO travel advice for updates."

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the "devastating" attacks.

In a statement, Ardern referred to the March 15 shootings in Christchurch.

She said: "New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil. New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely."

Sri Lankan security forces in 2009 defeated Tamil Tiger rebels who had fought to create an independent homeland for the country's ethnic minority Tamils.

The UN initially estimated the death toll from 26 years of fighting to be about 100,000 but a UN experts' panel later said some 45,000 ethnic Tamils may have been killed in the last months of the fighting alone.

Government troops and the Tamil Tigers were both accused of grave human rights violations, which prompted local and international calls for investigations.