Serial blasts in Sri Lanka targeted three churches and four hotels on Easter Sunday.
Sri Lanka, on April 21, was trembled with the wave of bombings that occurred during the Easter progress. The incident claimed nearly 300 lives, with at least 500 injured. As the nation continues to count dead bodies, leaders worldwide have expressed their shock over the ghastly attacks.
Malcolm Ranjith, Colombo’s archbishop, called on a public rally, while the UK Prime Minister Theresa May, called the blasts “appalling”. US President Donald Trump offered “heartfelt condolences” to the Sri Lankan people and said his country stood “ready to help”.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, “strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka”. In his tweet, he wrote “There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured.”
The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres expressed his shock as he was “outraged by the terrorist attacks”. He stressed the “sanctity of all places of worship”.
During the Easter sermon at the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed his “heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attacks “an assault on all of humanity”. Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, also condemned the devastating attacks. “New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely,” said Ardern.
In a telegram of condolences sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he denounced the attacks as “cruel and cynical”. Additionally, he said that Moscow remains a “reliable partner of Sri Lanka in the fight against international terrorism.”
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zafri offered condolences, expressing “deep shock” over the incident. The secretary general of the Oganisation of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef al-Othaimeen, too described the incident as “cowardly attacks”.
Also read:
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Declares Dissolution of Parliament Illegal