Condolences pour in after Sri Lanka blasts

Global political and religious leaders and people from all walks of life unite in their shock and condemnation as they express their condolences in social media after a series of explosions across Sri Lanka today left over two hundred people dead and several hundred others injured.

President of the United States, prime ministers of United Kingdom, India, Pakistan and Nepal, and Pope Francis, among others, have expressed their condolences and condemned the cowardly attacks in their official Twitter accounts.

“The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help!” US President Donald Trump said in a tweet.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a letter of condolence to Sri Lanka’s president, said “It is shocking that people who had gathered to celebrate Easter were the deliberate target of vicious attacks”.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter, “Deep sorrow following the terrorist attacks against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. We firmly condemn these heinous acts. All our solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka and our thoughts go out to all victims’ relatives on this Easter Day.”

“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,” British Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted.

Condemning the horrific blasts, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “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,” he added.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday that resulted in “precious lives lost and hundreds injured”.

“My profound condolences go to our Sri Lankan brethren. Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with Sri Lanka in their hour of grief,” he said

Nepalese Premier KP Sharma Oli also expressed profound sadness and condemnation at the incident of bomb blasts and killing of innocent people in Sri Lanka.

“I am deeply saddened by multiple bomb blasts and killings of innocent people in Sri Lanka. I express my condolence with Rt. Hon'ble Ranil Wickramasinghe, PM of SriLanka and bereaved families of victims of brutality. I wish speedy recovery of the injured,” he said

“I learned with sadness and pain of the news of the grave attacks, that precisely today, Easter, brought mourning and pain to churches and other places where people were gathered in Sri Lanka,” Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square to hear his Easter Sunday message.

“I wish to express my affectionate closeness to the Christian community, hit while it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence.”

“New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism, and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil on the 15th of March. To see an attack in Sri Lanka while people were in churches and at hotels is devastating,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a written statement.

“New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely. Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence,” she added.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Twitter, “It was with horror and sadness that I heard of the bombings in Sri Lanka costing the lives of so many people. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who had gathered to worship peacefully or come to visit this beautiful country. We stand ready to support.”

Netizens also poured in their condemnation and condolences after the blasts at three churches and three luxury hotels across the country left at least 207 people dead so far and around 400 others injured today.

“Terror and barbarity will never defeat us,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

At least 35 foreigners were among the dead, the officials said.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks in a country which was at war for decades with Tamil separatists until 2009 during which bomb blasts in the capital were common.

Seven people have so far been arrested in raids conducted by law enforcers in this connection, while three police officials were killed during the raids.