This Sunday, on Easter Day bomb blasts at three Sri Lankan churches and three luxury hotels which happened around 8:40(local time), killed more than 180 people and injured more than 500. According to Sri Lanka's Government, it was the major attack after 10 years. It was the chain boom blasting on the auspicious occasion of Easter day. Pictures of one of the three churches are circulating on local news channels and social media, showing the huge damage to the church. A major part of the church roof was blown in the explosion. It happened when the Sunday prayer is going on, within a few seconds roof tiles and splintered wood spreading all over the floor with blood everywhere and the bodies of worshippers. Hundreds of wounded worshipers and others were admitted to the local hospital.
Here's the full list of blast sites reported so far:
St Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
St Sebastian's Church, Negombo
Zion Church, Batticaloa
Cinnamon Grand, Colombo
Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo
The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo
Near Dehiwala Zoo in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
A house in Mahawila Gardens, Dematagoda
The motive behind these serial bomb blasts is still not clear and there were no claims from any terrorist group. The evangelical church in Batticaloa in Eastern Province witness 20 death and around 50 people were killed in St. Sebastian's gothic-style Catholic Church in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo.
Sri Lanka Prime Minister condemned the serial blasts attack in a tweet and said "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”.
The world is witnessing this wave of extremism. This is not just an attack on a church, this is about humanity. It is a great loss hundreds of people lost their loved ones. We pay our homage to those innocent people who gathered to pray for the goodwill.
