Sri Lanka explosions kill more than 200
COLOMBO : : In Sri Lanka, at least 207 people were killed and more than 400 injured in a series of bomb blasts targeting churches and five-star hotels during Easter services today. Three Indian nationals, Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh, are among the twenty-seven foreigners killed in the attacks. Two other Indians, Subramaniam and Jairam, are among the injured.
Three Indians have died in the serial blasts in Colombo that ripped through three churches during Easter services, four luxury hotels, where dozens of tourists were staying and a housing complex. More than 200 people died in the blasts and around 450 people were injured, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said today after a conversation with her Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana.
In a series of tweets, Ms Swaraj said, “Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details.”Another woman from Kerala, PS Razeena, 58, who had settled in Dubai, also died in the blasts, reported news agency IANS.
The number of dead had risen to 207, with over 450 people injured. Ravinatha Aryasinha, secretary to the foreign ministry, told reporters there were 27 bodies of suspected foreign nationals in the Colombo National Hospital.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe held an emergency meeting to review the situation and requested general public to remain calm and united. This is the biggest such attack in Sri Lanka since the war against LTTE ended in 2009.
The explosions hit St. Anthony’s Church in Colombo and other two churches in Negombo and Batticaloa. Another explosion was reported in the suburb of Colombo.
The attacks happened around 9 AM when the churches were organizing Easter mass while services were organized at the hotels.
An AFP photographer at the scene at St Anthony’s saw bodies lying on the floor, some draped with scarves and clothes. Much of the church roof was blown out in the explosion, with roof tiles, glass and splintered wood littering the floor along with pools of blood.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the blasts. “Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured,” PM Modi tweeted.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, responding to the explosions, said that she is in close touch with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo and that the government was closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country.
A police officer earlier said 35 foreigners were among the dead and hospital sources told AFP that British, Dutch and American citizens had been killed, with Britons and Japanese also injured. A Portuguese man also died, the country’s LUSA news agency reported.
Sri Lankan police has arrested seven suspects for their involvement in the blasts. The police said initial investigations show some of the attacks could have been carried by suicide bombers. Detailed investigations are on. State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardena described the blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists, but added that no one has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Following the explosions, curfew has been imposed in the country. A police spokesman said the curfew will remain effective till further notice. The government has also imposed a ban on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to avoid rumors.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blasts, but documents seen by AFP show that Sri Lanka’s police chief Pujuth Jayasundara issued an intelligence alert to top officers 10 days ago, warning that suicide bombers planned to hit “prominent churches”. “A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama’ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo,” AFP reported quoting the alert.
AIR correspondent reports that the attacks were quite coordinated and were targeted at minority Christians as well as foreign nationals. Interestingly, facts have emerged showing there were intelligence inputs for such attacks as week ago but police failed to prevent tit.
Government sources confirm involvement of local extremist groups and it has to be seen where there were any involvement of foreign groups. Police also suspect involvement of suicide bombers in the attacks, considered worst form of violence since war against LTTE ended in 2009. Government has urged public to stay calm and maintain harmony within religious communities.AFP(With Agency Inputs ).
