NEARLY 190 Persons Killed & 500 Injured In Serial Bomb Blasts By Suspected Suicide Bomber In Churches & Five – Star Hotels In Sri Lanka: Nationwide Curfew Imposed.
AT LEAST 190 persons including 35 foreign tourists and 500 injured due to bomb blasts in three churches during Easter Mass and as many five star hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday, April 21, say Sri Lankan Media. A Sucide bomber is suspected. One arrest has been made .Night Curgew has been imposed across the Island nation from 6 pm to 6 am. Social media including Facebook and WhatsApp has been suspended . AFP however claims that among the casualties 35 are foreigners. BBC however says nine are foreigners. At least eight explosions were reported.including one at a housing complex.The churches are in Kochchikade, Katana, and Batticaloa and three five-star hotels in Colombo, says Dailymirror.Some religious terror group is suspected for the mayhem. The targetted churches are St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa ,Police said.Twentyfour people were killed in the Colombo church explosion and 25 in Batticaloa. Explosions also hit Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury hotels. Casualty figures from these explosions are yet to be ascertained . The death toll is likely to climb.St. Sebastian’s church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo posted pictures of destruction inside the church on its Facebook page, showing blood on pews and the floor, and requested help from the public.”A bomb attack to our church, please come and help,” the post read.Colombo National Hospital is treating the wounded. Hospital spokesperson Dr Samindi Samarakoon said more than 300 people have been admitted with injuries. St. Sebastian’s church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo posted pictures of destruction inside the church on its Facebook page, showing blood on pews and the floor, and requested help from the public. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. An emergency Cabinet meeting held over the bomb explosions .High ranking civilian and defence officials attended it.“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, Minister Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva said. All schools will be closed tomorrow (Apr 22) and on Tuesday, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.The decision was made due to the recent explosions which were reported across the country. President Maithripala Sirisena has called on the general public to remain calm and cooperate with the ongoing investigations following today’s explosions in the country.Issuing a special statement, the President said that he has issued directives to the tri forces, the police and the Special Task Force to conduct investigation to take action against those involved in the incident. The Archbishop of Colombo Malcom Cardinal Ranjith has called on the general public to refrain from panicking over the recent explosions which were reported across the country this morning.While expressing condolences to the victims of these attacks, Cardinal Ranjith, speaking to reporters, called on the public to donate blood for the victims who were affected by the explosions.He also requested all doctors to report to work despite today being a holiday in order to “save atleast one life”. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the Bandaranaike International Airport owing to the blasts. .Air Force, Police and security personnel at the BIA have been deployed to undertake security measures at the airport, a spokesman for the airport told Times Online.Further, passengers are requested to be present at the airport four hours prior to their departure, the BIA said adding that the public can obtain more information regarding flight services by calling 1979.Meanwhile,Railways have announced not to accept passengers with large parcels owing to the current situation in the country.Security checks are currently being carried out by railway officials along with police officers on trains, a spokesman for the Railways Department said.(edited by Pranab Kumar Chakravarty with inputs from multiple sources)