Colombo, April 21: In the most dastardly serial blast in last decade, three Indians were among the 207 killed in Sri Lanka on Sunday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter. However, a woman from Kasargod district in north Kerala who was killed in one of the blasts was not among the three Swaraj named.
On Sunday, eight deadly serial blasts rocked Sri Lanka, which began in the morning at the St Anthony's Shrine at Kochchikade in Colombo when hundreds were gathered for the Easter Mass. Within half an hour, similar explosions ripped through the St Sebastian's Church in Negombo and the Zion Church in the eastern district of Batticaloa and later at four luxury hotels in the capital city. Sri Lanka Blasts: Nationwide Curfew in SL Till April 22 Morning, Schools Shut; Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber Blocked Temporarily.
Suicide bombing in Sri Lanka:
Among the 207 killed in the blast include three Indians - Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh, informed MEA. Also, Swaraj informed that more than 450 are injured in the terror blasts. She said the information is sharing is based on the conversation she had with Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Tilak Marapana.
Here's the Tweet:
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
In the last tweet, Swaraj had made it clear that India is ready to provide all humanitarian assistance. And if required, India is ready to despatch our medical teams as well.
Here's the Tweet:
I conveyed to the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka that India is ready to provide all humanitarian assistance. In case required, we are ready to despatch our medical teams as well.
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 21, 2019
Taking a step further, the MEA also shared the helpline numbers of Indian High Commission in Colombo - +94777903082, +94112422788, +94112422789.
Soon after the attack, announced a nationwide curfew in the island nation from 6 pm on Sunday to 6 am on Monday. Also, the Sri Lankan government has announced a two-day holiday for schools on April 22 and April 23 as a precautionary measure in wake of the terror attacks in the country. The Sri Lankan government has temporarily suspended access to all major social media and messaging services including WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber and YouTube.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 21, 2019 10:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).