External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has confirmed that three Indian nationals are amongst those who lost their lives in eight deadly terror blasts which rocked Sri Lanka on Sunday.
“Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that the National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lokashini, Narayan Chandrashekhar, and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details,” Swaraj tweeted.
#BREAKING | EAM @SushmaSwaraj :Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lokashini, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. #SriLanka #SriLankaBlast pic.twitter.com/IuL95RazlE
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) April 21, 2019
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Special Task Force raided a house in Colombo’s Orugodawatta in connection with the blasts, as per CNN. Seven people were also arrested in relation to the attacks by the authorities earlier.
ALSO READ: LIVE UPDATES | Death toll rises to 207, 450 injured, seven arrested in Sri Lanka blasts
At least 207 lost their lives and around 450 were injured when the explosions went off in the Sri Lankan cities of Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikade and Batticaloa as the Christian community celebrated Easter Sunday.
Out of the deceased, at least 30 people are believed to be foreigners, according to the authorities.
Two Chinese civilians are also amongst the deceased, Chinese state media confirmed. Their bodies have been identified by their families.
A 12-hour curfew will be enforced in Sri Lanka on Sunday evening, which will remain in force till 6 am on Monday in the wake of devastating blasts, according to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s secretary, Udaya R Seneviratne.
Schools across the island nation will also remain shut until Wednesday due to security concerns.
In a bid to curb fake news, Sri Lankan government has temporarily blocked popular social networking sites including Facebook and Instagram, CNN reported quoting officials.
No group has claimed the responsibility for the attacks as yet.
The international community has condemned the multiple blasts, with leaders from the United Kingdom, India, Nepal, and the European Union expressing their grief due to the bombings.
Former US President Barack Obama labelled the incident as an “attack on humanity.” “The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity. On a day devoted to love, redemption, and renewal, we pray for the victims and stand with the people of Sri Lanka,” he said.