india

Updated: May 05, 2020 04:45 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday strongly condemned the multiple blasts that rocked the island nation of Sri Lanka killing at least 138 people and injuring 300 others.

“Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. 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,” the Prime Minister tweeted while campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called up his counterpart in Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Yapa Sirisena to offer his condolences on the loss of lives.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said, “I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of innocent lives in multiple bombings on Easter Sunday in Colombo #Sri Lanka. My heartfelt condolences to the members of bereaved families and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Earlier External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also tweeted condemning the explosions in Sri Lanka.

The nature of the blasts was not immediately clear and there were no immediate claims of responsibility.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in an address said he was shocked by the explosions and appealed for calm.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wrote on Twitter: “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today.”

Shortly after those blasts were reported, police confirmed three hotels in the capital had also been hit, along with a church in Batticaloa.

An official at one of the hotels, the Cinnamon Grand Hotel near the prime minister’s official residence in Colombo, told AFP that the blast had ripped through the hotel restaurant. At least 1 person was killed, he said.