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Death Toll Reaches 187 | ACCORDING to the latest report, The death toll in the Sri Lanka terror attacks has reached 187. Six blasts, at three churches and three hotels, ripped through Sri Lanka on Sunday morning.
An emergency meeting had been called over the bomb explosions reported across the country, Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva said a short while ago.
In a tweet, he said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on his way from Bentota.
“Secretary of Defence and I am at Kochchikade Church. We were also at Shangri-La and Kingsbury Hotels. Rescue operations are underway. Many casualties have been reported including foreigners,” he said and requested people to stay calm and indoors.
This is the biggest such attack in Sri Lanka since the war against LTTE ended in 2009.
Sri lanka terror attack: India closely monitoring the situation
WEB DESK / COLOMBO /AGENCIES
Six explosions ripped through Sri Lanka’s churches and popular hotels on Sunday morning, with authorities saying 99 people were feared dead. Worshippers were targeted at the Kochikade, St Sebastian and Batticaloa churches during Easter mass. The other locations are Hotel Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotel.
The blasts occurred at around 8.45am (local time) as the Easter Sunday masses were in progress in churches, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.
The Sri Lankan President Maithripala has expressed shock over the terror attacks across Sri Lanka. “I am shocked and saddened by the situation that has occurred,” he said. he said that the investigations has been initiated in the case. “Please remain calm and do not be fooled by rumours,” the Sri Lankan President said.
According to Daily Mirror, Police urged the public to stay indoors and not to gather at the explosion sites, and outside the national hospitals where the injured are being brought in.
Several casualties were reported, including foreign tourists, from at least six explosions this morning at three churches in Kochchikade, Katana, and Batticaloa and three five-star hotels, the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury in Colombo, it said.
According to Colombo National Hospital sources, more than 100 injured were admitted to the hospital.
India’s External Affairs 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 neighboring country.
For Indian citizens in Sri Lanka requiring any assistance, the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka has tweeted out helpline numbers.
I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today. I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation.
— Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) April 21, 2019
Explosions have been reported in Colombo and Batticaloa today. We are closely monitoring the situation. Indian citizens in need of assistance or help and for seeking clarification may call the following numbers : +94777903082 +94112422788 +94112422789
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 21, 2019
Only around six per cent of mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka is Catholic, but the religion is seen as a unifying force because it includes people from both the Tamil and majority Sinhalese ethnic groups.
I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of innocent lives in multiple bombings on Easter Sunday in Colombo #SriLanka.
My heartfelt condolences to the members of bereaved families and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.#lka #SriLankaBlasts #Blasts
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) April 21, 2019
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2019