Sri Lankan PM condemns cowardly attacks

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday condemned a string of blasts that killed at least 207 people.

Security forces inspect the damage from the blast at St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade in Colombo yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday condemned a string of blasts that killed at least 207 ­people and wounded more than 400 as “cowardly” and said the government was working to “contain the situation”.

“I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today,” he said in a tweet from his verified account.

“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 toll from the blasts that rocked three churches and three hotels simultaneously, about 8.45am, was at least 207, ­including 35 foreigners.

A policeman inspects the damage at the Shangri-la hotel in Colombo yesterday. Picture: AP

A hospital source said Americans, British and Dutch citizens were among those killed in the six blasts that hit churches where Easter services were under way. Two of the churches were the Catholic St Anthony’s in Colombo and St Sebastian’s in Negombo, about 30km from the capital. A protestant church was targeted in Batticaloa, 250km east of the capital.

The other three explosions were reported in luxury hotels — the Cinnamon Grand, Kingsbury and Shangri-La — in the centre of Colombo.

Scott Morrison condemned the attacks with a post on his Twitter account. “I condemn the devastating & horrific Easter terrorist attacks on innocents in churches & hotels in Sri Lanka. I’ve been taking briefings this afternoon on the situation from DFAT. Call 1300 555 135 if you’re seeking information on friends or relatives travelling in Sri Lanka,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Police clear the road for an ambulance carrying the wounded through the capital yesterday. Picture: AP

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the Australian high commission in Colombo was “making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine the welfare of any Australians affected”. “Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the area should attempt to contact them directly,” the spokesman said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the attacks as “truly appalling”.

“The acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling, and my deepest sympathies go out to all of those affected at this tragic time. We must stand together to make sure that no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear,” Mrs May said on Twitter

The Archbishop of Colombo called for those responsible to be punished “mercilessly”. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith called on the Sri Lanka’s government to launch a “very impartial strong inquiry” and to punish those found responsible “mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”.

It was the worst violence in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war a decade ago. The magnitude of the bloodshed recalled the random bombings perpetrated by the separatist Tamil Tigers that targeted a bank, a shopping mall, a Buddhist temple and hotels popular with tourists. No group has claimed responsibility.

Only about 6 per cent of mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka is Catholic, but the religion is seen as a unifying force because it includes ­people from both the Tamil and majority Sinhalese ethnic groups.

A body is removed from St Anthony's yesterday. Picture: Reuters

Last year, there were 86 verified incidents of discrimination, threats and violence against Christians, according to the ­National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.

This year, the NCEASL recorded 26 such incidents.

Out of Sri Lanka’s total population of about 22 million, 70 per cent are Buddhist, 12.6 per cent Hindu, 9.7 per cent Muslim and 7.6 per cent Christian, according to the country’s 2012 census.

Sri Lankan security forces in 2009 defeated Tamil Tiger rebels who had fought to create an independent homeland for the country’s ethnic minority Tamils.

The UN initially estimated the death toll from 26 years of fighting to be about 100,000 but a UN expert panel later said about 45,000 ethnic Tamils may have been killed in the last months of the fighting alone. Government troops and the Tamil Tigers were both accused of grave human rights violations.

AFP, AP, Reuters