By Verghese V Joseph –
The Catholic Bishops’ Council of India (CBCI) expressed deep anguish at the blasts that hit Sri Lankan churches today. “Our hearts weep for those who died and bleed in Colombo but we weep even more for those heartless people whose hatred blinds them to massacre innocent human beings. God have mercy on our world. Our prayers for our neighbouring people of Sri Lanka,” CBCI said.
Serial bomb blasts rocked Sri Lanka early on Sunday morning claiming over 200 lives and injuring nearly 400 people. The explosions hit four churches and two luxury hotels in Colombo and other parts of the country. The blasts occurred at 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday masses were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.
Indian Catholic Matters spoke to Sanjiv Peris, a Catholic from Colombo. “We were at church attending the Easter service when I received a call from my friend informing me about the blasts at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.” Indian Catholic Matters also spoke to a couple of journalists who said multiple blasts took place at four churches and two luxury hotels in Colombo and other parts of the country, plunging the nation in despair.
According to independent sources, the blasts took place at St. Anthony’s Shrine also known as Kochikade Church in Colombo which is frequented by foreign tourists. The second church is St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a Catholic majority town north of Colombo, and the third church is in the eastern town of Batticaloa and Kingsbury Church. The hotels that were targetted were Shangri La hoteln and Cinnamon Grand Hotel. The first blast ripped through St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo. Sri Lankan security officials have sealed off the churches.
In a statement to the country, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his sadness over the attacks, saying, “I am shocked and saddened by the situation that has occurred. Investigations have been launched to look into what conspiracy is behind these heinous acts. Please remain calm and do not be fooled by rumours.”
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that the Indian government and envoys are closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka.
Only around six percent 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.