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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)

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