COLOMBO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry said on Thursday that it has kept its new visa-on-arrival program on hold due to the security situation in the country.

The visa-on-arrival regime was expected to be implemented from May 1 for tourists from over 30 countries.

However, following the string of explosions on Easter Sunday which left 359 people dead and over 500 others injured, the government decided to put the program on hold until further notice.

"Investigations have revealed foreign links to the attacks and we do not want this facility to be abused," Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga said.

The pilot program was part of a larger initiative to increase tourist arrivals to the island country during the six-month off-season period from May to October.

Tourism was one of the worst hit industries following the deadly blasts in churches and star class hotels in or around Colombo on Sunday.