Sri Lanka rocked by eight blasts on Easter Sunday, 207 killed

The attacks left over 450 people injured, leaving the world condemning the incident which disrupted peace in the nation that has witnessed civil wars in the past.

The death toll from the blasts has risen to 207, according to a police spokesman, reported CNN.

Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Harsha de Silva said seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the incidents.

"@RWijewardene says 7 people under arrest for morning attacks that killed at least 160 people including perhaps close to 30 foreigners (Source: Sec/Foreign Affairs) at meeting now w heads of media. Asks for responsible reporting," he tweeted.

Blasts were reported from three churches and several other hotels in the city.

The churches were identified as St Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian's church in the nearby city of Negombo and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa.

The first blast occurred at 8.45 am in St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade and the other at St Sebestian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana.

Shortly after those blasts were reported, police confirmed three hotels in the capital had also been hit, along with a church in the town of Batticalao, in the east of the country.

The police said explosions also occurred at Shangri-La Hotel and Kingsbury Hotel in the capital.

As per initial reports the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals. The dead included foreigners, a minister said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urged all to remain united and strong and not be swayed by speculations or unverified reports.

Police in Sri Lanka will impose an island-wide curfew starting Sunday from 6pm local (8:30aET Sunday), finishing at 6am local (8:30pET Sunday) on Monday morning, according to the President's Secretary, Udaya R. Seneviratne, reported CNN.

The government has imposed temporary ban on several popular social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp.

Several top leaders across the globe, including US President Donald Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi, condemned the attack and offered their help to the Island Nation in the hour of crisis.

Meanwhile, two names of suspected suicide bomber, who might be associated with the blasts, have emerged.

The attack at Shangri La hotel was carried out by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim, while Abu Mohammad has been identified as the attacker at the Batticalao church, reported CNN News 18 website.

Three Indians among those killed

Three Indians have been killed in the serial blasts that rocked Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and some nearby areas on Easter Sunday, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said.

"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," Swaraj tweeted. The name of the first person was later corrected to Lakshmi.

"I have just spoken to the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka H.E. Mr.Tilak Marapana. He confirmed that unfortunately, 207 persons have lost their lives and more than 450 are injured in the terror blasts," she said.

The external affairs minister said she had conveyed to her Sri Lankan counterpart that India was ready to provide all humanitarian assistance. "In case required, we are ready to despatch our medical teams as well," she added.

Indian condemns serial blasts

Earlier in the day, India strongly condemned the serial blasts in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister and offered his condolences on behalf of the Indian citizens for the loss of lives in the terrorist attacks.

A statement from the Prime Minister office said he "condemned in the strongest terms the the serial terrorist attacks, perpetrated at sites including religious places and during a religious festival".

Terming them as cold-blooded and pre-planned barbaric acts, PM Modi pointed out that these attacks were another reminder that terrorism was the foremost challenge before the administrations of the countries in the region and the entire world at large.

India has offered all possible help to Sri Lanka for ensuring its security.

India's ministry of foreign affairs also issued a statement condemning the attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday,

Extending India's deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Sri Lanka and wishing the speedy recovery of the injured, it said: "India has always opposed and rejected terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and has urged concerted action by the international community against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terror."

"We call for perpetrators of such ghastly and heinous act and those who provide them support to be brought to justice expeditiously," it added.