Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after 8 blasts killed more than 290 people on Easter | By special arrangement
Colombo: Multiple explosions rocked three churches and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka during Easter Sunday mass, leaving at least 138 dead in the worst violence since the civil war ended a decade ago.
The blasts occurred at around 8.45 am (local time) as the Easter Sunday masses were in progress in churches, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.
Three churches – St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa – were targeted.
Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels, the Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his government is taking immediate steps to contain the situation. “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today,” Wickremesinghe said in a tweet. “I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation.”
An emergency security council meeting had been called to review the attacks that seem to be coordinated, Harsha de Silva, minister of economic reform and public distribution, said by phone. “Rescue operations underway,” de Silva said on Twitter. “Many casualties including foreigners. Horrible scenes.”
It was not immediately clear if the blasts had caused casualties. One such person who lost their lives is reportedly a lady named Nisanga Mayadunne.
Here is her Facebook post about her having Easter Sunday breakfast with family at Shangri-La hotel, one of the hotels where a blast occurred Sunday; other Facebook users are now posting messages of condolences on the post
Possible victim Nisanga Mayadunne having easter breakfast at Shangri-La Hotel. The photo was published at approximately 8:30 AM, whereas the blasts reportedly occurred at 8:45 AM.
Ethnic and religious divisions have plagued the island nation for decades, and 26-year civil war that ended in 2009 saw at least 100,000 people killed. Catholics, split between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, make up 6.5 percent of Sri Lanka’s 20.4 million population, according to the nation’s 2012 census.
Police and emergency vehicles blocked the entrance to the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, where there’s visible damage, including shattered windows above the main entrance where a cafe was located.
“A bomb attack to our church, please come and help,” read a facebook post from St Sebastian’s Church at Katuwapitiutya, in the Western coastal town of Negombo.
(Additional inputs from Regina Mihindukulasuriya, PTI, and Bloomberg)
