Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Sri Lankan expats in Oman have expressed their shock and grief in the wake of the deadly explosions that have left at least 215 people dead and more than 500 injured.
The island nation was hit by eight blasts within a few hours of each other on Easter Sunday. Worshippers were targeted at the Kochikade, St. Sebastian’s and Batticaloa Churches during Easter Mass. Other locations hit by the explosions which began around 08:45am include the Shangri La Hotel, Hotel Kingsbury and the Cinnamon Grand, where foreign tourists were counted among the dead.
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A nationwide curfew from 18:00 local time to 06:00 was declared after officials and military leaders held emergency meetings. After the attacks, Roy Lasantha, President of the Sri Lankan Community Social Club, told Times of Oman, “We are shocked and worried for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. We don’t understand how this could happen again, and we have urged expats in Oman not to share rumours before the government can confirm what exactly has happened. We will of course meet and discuss the possibility of a joint mourning for Sri Lankan expats.”
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Nirmala Liyanage, the principal Sri Lankan School Muscat, said, “We have lived in such harmony for years.”
She told Times of Oman, “We are multicultural, and we feel dead inside right now. We don’t know how to react to the attacks but have urged everyone not to spread rumours. We must meet and discuss whether school will be closed for mourning, but we know that schools in Sri Lanka will be closed on 22 and 23 April.”
Roy Lasantha, himself a witness of the 2008 Moratuwa bus bombings in Sri Lanka, which killed 21 commuters, told us, “We were hoping to never see this kind of attack again.”
Talking about his own experience, he said, “I’ve been saved by micro seconds in two blasts in Sri Lanka, and have seen the bodies with my own eyes, and blood spread across the roads. That’s why I say that none of us want to see this again.”
The Social Club has been quick to reach out to Sri Lankans in Oman regarding their safety and that of their loved ones and, according to Mr. Lasantha, no expats have so far been reported to be among the casualties or injuries at the time of publishing.
A senior Sri Lankan expat, Sharuka Wickrama Adittiya told Times of Oman, “I feel terribly sad, more than anything else. It is a very difficult situation.”
Yesterday afternoon, President Maithripla Sirisena said, “I have given instructions to take very stern action against the persons who are responsible for this conspiracy,” and added that all required steps have been taken to fulfil the responsibilities as a government.
