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The
attacks left more than 200
fatalities and more than
400 injured in Sri Lanka.
/ UN
courtesy photo
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Government condemns attacks in
Sri Lanka
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By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
and wire services
The government expressed its
condemnation of the attacks
reported on Sunday in Sri Lanka*
against several hotels and
churches in which Easter was
celebrated. The attacks left
more than 200 fatalities and
more than 400 injured in Sri
Lanka.
"Costa Rica expresses its
solidarity with and heartfelt
condolences for the families
of the victims, which also
include people from various
nations who were at the time
of the attacks in Sri Lanka,"
said the government in its
statement. "It also expresses
its repudiation and condemns
these attacks and reiterates
its rejection of violence in
all its forms and
manifestations."
According to the United
Nations, three churches were
targeted in the cities of
Batticaloa, Negombo, and the
capital, Colombo. The
Shangri-La, Kingsbury,
Cinnamon Grand, and another
hotel, all in the capital,
were also hit.
So far, no group has claimed
responsibility for carrying
out the suspected suicide
bombings, but police have
reportedly arrested seven
people in connection with the
attacks.
The Secretary-General said in
a statement that on what was
"a sacred day for Christians
around the world", he recalled
"the sanctity of all places of
worship."
The statement issued by his
spokesperson said the U.N.
chief "expresses his deepest
condolences to the families of
the victims, the people and
government of Sri Lanka, and
wishes a speedy recovery to
the injured."
Guterres commends Sri Lankan
leadership, and 'unity of the
people'. He also commended
"the leadership demonstrated
by the authorities and unity
of the people in Sri Lanka in
the wake of the attacks."
In a tweet, the U.N.’s
Resident Coordinator for the
Indian Ocean island, Hanaa
Singer, said the U.N.
"strongly condemns the
horrific attacks carried out
against civilians and
worshippers ...Heartfelt
condolences to the families,
victims, government and
people.” She also urged Sri
Lankans to “stand united” in
the face of the carnage.
The President of the U.N.
General Assembly, Maria
Fernanda Espinosa, also
expressed her “deep sadness”
in a tweet, saying that her
thoughts were with the people
of Sri Lanka, “affected by yet
another act of senseless
violence.” “We must
unite in our common humanity
to condemn these heinous acts
and stop targeting innocent
people, practicing their faith
in peace,” she added.
Sir Lanka’s bloody 26-year
civil war waged between
government forces and Tamil
separatists in the north,
ended in 2009 with the defeat
of the rebels, and in the
years since, there has been
sporadic violence, some
targeting religious
minorities.
The island is home to around
1.5 million Christians, the
vast majority Roman Catholic.
The Singhalese majority is
Buddhist – around 70 percent
of the population - with
sizeable Hindu and Muslim
minorities as well.
In response to Sunday’s
attacks, a national curfew has
been put in place, and social
media networks have reportedly
been blocked.
Eye witness reports from St.
Sebastian’s church in Negombo
describe a scene of carnage,
with dozens killed. There were
also heavy casualties at St.
Anthony’s in the Kochckicade
district of Colombo, where the
first blast detonated.
Pope Francis, in his Easter
Address outside St. Peter’s in
Rome, reportedly expressed his
“affectionate closeness” for
the Christian community in Sri
Lanka which had been struck
while gathering for one of its
biggest celebrations of the
year, and his thoughts to “all
the victims of such cruel
violence.”
U.N. chief Guterres, concluded
his statement reiterating the
"support and solidarity of the
United Nations, with the
people and the Government of
Sri Lanka, in this difficult
moment for the nation."
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Should the UN send a
Peacekeeping force to
contain the terrorist gangs?We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
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