PM Imran condoles with Lanka premier after Easter carnage

In a telephonic conversation offers counter-terrorism assistance to Sri Lanka

Two days after a series of blast rocked Sri Lanka claiming the lives of 359 people, Prime Minister Imran Khan called his counterpart to offer condolences.

In a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Imran strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place on Easter Sunday and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and profound prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

“Terrorism knows no boundaries, no religion and threatens the peace of the entire region and the world,” he underscored adding that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and will continue to provide every possible support for the elimination of this menace.

Imran reiterated Pakistan’s offer of assistance to Sri Lanka towards counter-terrorism measures and maintained that the people of Pakistan were deeply grieved over the loss of precious lives and stood with their Sri Lankan brethren at this hour of grief.

“Being the worst sufferers of terrorism, we can feel the pain of our Sri Lankan brethren,” the premier stated.

The death toll in a series of suicide bomb blasts on Easter Sunday targeting hotels and churches in Sri Lanka rose to 359 on Wednesday.

The additional deaths were the result of the wounded dying of their injuries. At least 500 people were injured in the attacks.

The blasts have been claimed by the Islamic State group, with Sri Lanka’s government pointing the finger at the little-known local group National Thowheeth Jama’ath, but saying the group likely had ‘international’ help.

Nearly 60 people have been detained since the Sunday blasts, which ripped through high-end hotels and churches packed with Easter worshippers in the capital Colombo and beyond.

It is the worst violence in the country since the end of a Tamil insurgency a decade ago.

The Foreign Office later tweeted that PM Imran made a telephonic call to his Sri Lankan counterpart and condemned the attacks.

PM @ImranKhanPTI today telephoned his Sri Lankan Counterpart @RW_UNP. PM strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place on Easter Sunday.
He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families & profound prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 24, 2019