#easter attacks

Multiple bombings across the country, 3 churches have been hit as well as 3 top hotels in the country, disrupting Easter mass and Easter celebrations at the hotels.

Over 160 have been confirmed dead, and around 300 injured.

Please pray for Sri Lanka and its people, this is a country which suffered for 30 years with a Civil War and the people cannot go through this again.

Update: Death toll rises to 190, with 2 more attacks in the past hour.

2nd update: Another attack, at the same place as the 8th one. Death count unknown.

3rd update: Death toll is confirmed 207.

4th update: Death toll is confirmed 290.

Sri Lanka held its first mass funerals on Tuesday for victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, a string of bombings at churches and hotels that has left a nation in mourning. The death toll rose to 321 people since the first blasts.

In Negombo, about 20 miles north of the capital, Sri Lankans gathered at St. Sebastian's church after going through body checks. Security forces stood guard at the edges of the crowd, protecting men and women who sang solemn hymns through tears. Each casket was brought to a plot of land to be buried. Flowers, candles and white crosses adorned the fresh graves.

At the Cinnamon Grand hotel in the capital, Colombo, a spokesperson tells NPR that staff held a private funeral with religious leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities — Sri Lanka's main religious groups.

There were 15 guests and five staff members who died in the hotel's restaurant. One of the employees was not working, the spokesperson says. Instead, T.A.A. Yaheya was celebrating his birthday with his family. His wife and child survived.

"We need to say our goodbyes," the spokesperson said. "There is a sense of sadness and loss."

Mass Funerals Begin In A Grieving Sri Lanka

I know. 😞

If ya'll honestly think the Notre Dame Cathedral fire can be compared to the attacks in Sri Lanka, please take a break and go re-evaluate your life.

While it is upsetting that the iconic cathedral burnt, there were no casualties and millions of dollars was raised to restore it.

But, 8 explosions occured in less than 24 hours, 207 people have lost their lives, and around 600 people are injured. There is currently an island wide curfew. 3 whole churches have been burnt, destroyed and will need so thousands of dollars to repair. 3 five star hotels have been targeted too, and around 30 tourists have also lost their lives. And no one talks about it, and everyone who does just sends their prayers. We need more awarness and we need action.

It is obvious they were targeting Easter celebrations, and Easter mass. No one has taken responsibility for the attacks, and there are no proven leads as to who was behind this. This country will not be able to have a happy Easter many years to come.

This country suffered for 30 entire years with a civil war, which was also based on tension between religious groups. Let's prevent that from happening again, and fight for the innocent catholic people who have died.

Update: death toll is 290 as of 22nd April.

At St. Anthony’s church in Colombo, residents prayed outside and lit candles near a memorial

Colombo:

Survivors of last year’s devastating Islamist suicide bombings in Sri Lanka held a private anniversary service Tuesday because of a coronavirus lockdown as the nation paid tribute with a two-minute silence.

The pandemic forced the Roman Catholic leadership to call off elaborate services to…

Sri Lanka Police Chief Arrested Over Failure To Prevent Easter Attacks #ANNnews

Sri Lankan police on Tuesday arrested their top commander and a former defence chief over alleged failures to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 258 people, spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

The arrests came a day after the chief state prosecutor, General Dappula de Livera said the alleged negligence of the two senior officials amounted to “grave crimes against humanity”, and they…