Colombo, April 21

The St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo bore the brunt of a series of powerful blasts across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday with 104 deaths and a top priest saying pieces of flesh were thrown all over the walls, on the sanctuary and even outside the church.

At least 215 persons were killed and around 500 others injured when near simultaneous and coordinated explosions rocked three churches, four luxury hotels frequented by tourists in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, officials said. Two blasts took place in the afternoon, claiming five more lives, including that of three police personnel.

Sri Lankan media reported that the Negombo Hospital has reported at least 104 deaths and received 100 injured worshippers from the Sebastian’s Church.

Father Edmond Tillekeratne, social communications director for the Archdiocese of Colombo, spoke to CNN from St Sebastian’s Church, one of the locations targeted. He said the blast took place after Easter Mass, and that there were about 30 bodies lying in the area of the church.

He said three priests had been celebrating the mass at the time of the blast. Two of them were badly injured by flying glass and debris, and one suffered less injuries because he was behind the altar. He estimated that more than a thousand people had come to the church for Easter Sunday “because it is a special day”. Many people came from villages, he said. He described the ground as covered in rubble and shattered glass. “You can see pieces of flesh thrown all over the walls and on the sanctuary and even outside of the church,” he added.

The church, built in 1946, is one of the many churches in Sri Lanka dedicated to St Sebastian who is considered a martyr in the Catholic Church history.

At the St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, journalists saw bodies lying on the floor, some draped with scarves and clothes. Reports say said much of the church roof had been blown off in the explosion, with tiles, glass and splintered wood littering the floor — along with pools of blood.

The Archbishop of Colombo has demanded that those responsible for the Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka to be punished “mercilessly”. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, in a strong statement, urged the government to launch a “very impartial strong inquiry” and to punish those found responsible “mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”. All Easter mass in the Colombo district have been cancelled, the Cardinal announced.

The Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, which was the site of one of the explosions, released a statement, saying it was one of the several locations in Colombo which were affected by this morning’s attacks. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the casualties and those who have been affected. We are working closely with local authorities and emergency services to provide our fullest assistance and support to the affected staff and guests. Our immediate priority is to look after the safety and wellbeing of all involved. A Shangri-La crisis management team has been activated to provide all necessary support.”

“As this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment further at this stage. We will provide an update once more information is available,” the hotel said. — PTI

FATAl PAST

Sri Maha Bodhi attack (1985): Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam gunned down at least 146 nuns, monks and civilians in Anuradhapura

Aluth Oya massacre (1987): At least 127 Sinhalese people were killed by LTTE in Aluth Oya

Colombo bus station bombing (1987): A car bomb exploded in the heart of Colombo, killing at least 113 people

Kattankudy mosque massacre (1990): LTTE targeted and killed at least 147 Muslims in Kattankudy

Palluyagodella massacre (1992): LTTE killed an estimated 285 people — mostly Sinhalese — at Palluyagodella village

Colombo bank bombing (1996): 91 people were killed when a bomb-laden truck was used by LTTE rammed through the gate of Colombo Central Bank

Digampathana bombing (2006): LTTE used a bomb-laden truck and rammed it against a convoy of 15 military buses, killing at least 120 sailors