Bangladeshis in Colombo safe: High Commission

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 13:19, Apr 21, 2019 | Updated : 15:20, Apr 21, 2019

The St Sebastian`s church in Negombo, north of Colombo, was one of the three churches hit by explosion on Easter Sunday. FACEBOOK/St Sebastian Church, NegomboAny casualties involving Bangladeshi citizens living in Colombo is yet to be reported following attacks on churches and hotels in the Sri Lankan capital on Sunday.
Easter Day bomb blasts at three Sri Lankan churches and three luxury hotels killed 138 people and wounded more than 400, hospital and police officials said.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah told Bangla Tribune that the mission is in touch with the Bangladeshis living in Colombo.
A hotline has been also opened and Bangladeshis living in Sri Lanka have been asked to stay at their homes or safe places, he added.
In just one church, St Sebastian's in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo, more than 50 people had been killed, a police official told Reuters, with pictures showing bodies on the ground, blood on the pews and a destroyed roof.
Media reported 25 people were also killed in an attack on a church in Batticaloa in Eastern Province.
The three hotels hit were the Shangri-La Colombo, Kingsbury Hotel and Cinnamon Grand Colombo. It was unclear whether there were any casualties in the hotels.
Nine 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.

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