UN chief expresses condolences to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: The United Nations secretary-general is expressing condolences over the Sri Lankan bombings on Easter Sunday.
The statement issued by spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged by the terrorist attacks on churches and hotels on a ‘sacred day for Christians around the world’ and hoped the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice.
He said Sri Lanka had the support and solidarity of the United Nations in its difficult moment.
The bombings killed 290 people and were Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago.
Police say the death toll from the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka has increased to 290.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara also said Monday more than 500 people had been wounded.
The nine bombings of churches, luxury hotels and other sites was Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago.
Indian officials say five Indians were killed in Sunday’s Sri Lanka bombings.
The external affairs minister and the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka identified the five victims in a series of tweets.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Sri Lankan leaders and condemned the blasts. Modi tweeted, ‘There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka.’
Sri Lankan authorities have said at least 27 of the more than 200 dead were foreigners. The United States said several were Americans but didn’t give a figure. Japan has confirmed one dead. Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry says one Portuguese, two Turkish nationals, three British nationals and two holding US and British nationalities were among the dead.
Sri Lankan authorities have lifted a curfew that was in place overnight following Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 200 people.
The streets in the capital, Colombo, were largely deserted Monday morning, with most shops closed and a heavy deployment of soldiers and police. Stunned clergy and onlookers gathered at St. Anthony’s Shrine, looking past the soldiers to the damaged church that was targeted in one of the blasts.
The nine bombings of churches, luxury hotels and other sites was Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago. Police the death toll, which was 207 late Sunday, had risen overnight but the figure wasn’t immediately released.
Police in Sri Lanka say the investigation into the Easter Sunday bombings will examine reports that the intelligence community failed to detect or warn of possible suicide attacks before the violence.
The nine bombings of churches, luxury hotels and other sites was Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war in the South Asian island nation ended a decade ago. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said Monday the death toll, which was 207 late Sunday, had risen overnight but the figure wasn’t immediately released.
Two government ministers have alluded to intelligence failures. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said Monday that the Criminal Investigation Department investigating the blasts will look into the reports.
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardena previously described the blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists.