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 in Sri Lanka yesterday. 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. 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. 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. The government has also imposed a ban on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to avoid rumours.
Six bomb blasts targeted three five-star hotels in Colombo and three churches across the country. 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. 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.