Five Indians killed in Sri Lanka bomb blasts
Colombo, Apr 22 (IBNS): Five Indian nationals were among the 207 people who were killed in eight blasts that rocked Sri Lanka on Sunday and disrupted peace in the Island Nation which had witnessed civil wars for several years, officials said on Monday.
The attacks left over 450 people injured.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday confirmed the death of three Indian nationals in the incidents.
She had tweeted: "Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lokashini, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details."
Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lokashini, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details. /3
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 21, 2019
Name of the first victim was later corrected as Lakshmi.
On Monday morning, Indian High Commission in Colombo confirmed the deaths of two more Indians.
"We sadly confirm the deaths of the following two individuals in the blasts yesterday: - K G Hanumantharayappa -M Rangappa," it tweeted.
@SushmaSwaraj
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 22, 2019
We sadly confirm the deaths of the following two individuals in the blasts yesterday:
- K G Hanumantharayappa
-M Rangappa.
Eight blasts rocked Sri Lanka on a day when the country was observing Easter Sunday.
Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Harsha de Silva said seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the incidents.
"@RWijewardene says 7 people under arrest for morning attacks that killed at least 160 people including perhaps close to 30 foreigners (Source: Sec/Foreign Affairs) at meeting now w heads of media. Asks for responsible reporting," he tweeted.
Blasts were reported from three churches and several other hotels in the city.
The churches were identified as St Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian's church in the nearby city of Negombo and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa.
The first blast occurred at 8.45 am in St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade and the other at St Sebestian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana.
Shortly after those blasts were reported, police confirmed three hotels in the capital had also been hit, along with a church in the town of Batticalao, in the east of the country.
The police said explosions also occurred at Shangri-La Hotel and Kingsbury Hotel in the capital.
The government has imposed temporary ban on several popular social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp.
Several World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, condemned the incident.
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