Multiple bombs explode in Colombo [April 21]

[pauly7]

Really awful.

I was thinking the same about the Cinnamon Grand where we stayed.

It’s just horrifying I can literally see the table (well where it used to be) where we ate breakfast, lunch

The attackers would have had to come through lobby security, up one level and then through the restaurant to get there.

 

[Pushka]

Just read this on the news website. Just doesn’t make sense. Not that any of it ever does. Wonder if NZ tragedy had anything to do with it.

Seems I’m not the only one who has considered the same thing.

 

[daft009]

We have property there and relos.
Relos are all okay as they don't live in the big cities.

All the relos know someone who perished though. Entire families at church or entire families at breakfast at one of the hotels.

Dec '17 we had an excellent meal and dessert at the Kingsbury hotel.

 

[Pushka]

It’s just horrifying I can literally see the table (well where it used to be) where we ate breakfast, lunch

The attackers would have had to come through lobby security, up one level and then through the restaurant to get there.

The bomber was lined up at the buffet. Unimaginable.

 

[Bodie]

My Brother in law and Sister in law are in Sri Lanka at the moment. As well as touring My brother in law is playing cricket as part of the tour group and at the time of attack was playing their first match of cricket tour, so lucky everyone inc partners was at the match, so all safe. Very lucky

 

[get me outta here]

I hope we’re not missing anybody because apparently 2 Australians are among the dead.

 

[drron]

Now up to 290 dead,500 injured.
A facebook post 5 minutes before the bomb went off in the Shangrila.So sad.

A TV chef and her daughter posed for an Easter breakfast selfie. Minutes later they were dead

Heartbroken fans mourn the loss of a Sri Lankan celebrity chef who was pictured having breakfast in the upmarket Shangri-La hotel just minutes before a bomb tore apart the hotel's dining room.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

It’s certainly been an incredibly “effective” attack which is quite alarming because lately the attacks don’t seem to have been as well planned. Just awful.

 

[daft009]

Now up to 290 dead,500 injured.
A facebook post 5 minutes before the bomb went off in the Shangrila.So sad.

A TV chef and her daughter posed for an Easter breakfast selfie. Minutes later they were dead

Heartbroken fans mourn the loss of a Sri Lankan celebrity chef who was pictured having breakfast in the upmarket Shangri-La hotel just minutes before a bomb tore apart the hotel's dining room.

www.abc.net.au

A friend of ours knows that family very well. Went to highschool with the chef's daughter :-(

 

[Milboo]

The bomber was lined up at the buffet. Unimaginable.

They said the same for Cinnamon Grand. Checked in the night before. Went to breakfast, queued and then did this despicable act.

I read an Australian staying with family had avoided downtown as there was news on the grapevine to avoid the city that morning.

 

[Foreigner]

So sad. The toll at the moment stands at 321

In Feb 2016 I stayed a night in Colombo at Hotel Galadari. From my room I could see the Kingsbury.

A friend and I went to St Anthony’s church and had lunch at Cinnamon Grand. Restaurant overlooked the hotel pool. Part of hotel foyer had extravagant table setup with high ceiling and huge lighting.

 

[wandering_fred]

The SriLankan family I regularly visit grew up in the NEGOMBO area. The extended family lost 4 in the St Sebastians Church explosion. I am uncertain of the number and status of injured but greater than zero.
I suspect that the immediate medical costs will be taken care of, but the longer term problems for what city dwellers would call "rural and regional" people who would normally exist on AU$250/month will be overwhelming.

A perspective on St Sebastians bombing

Fred

 

[Melburnian1]

With others, I have been to Mass at a Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. I have also been fortunate to travel throughout what is an attractive island with friendly people, even in previously war-torn Jaffna.

As in many places worldwide, Christians - particularly Catholic Christians - were specifically targeted in Sir Lanka by what appears to be Islamic terrorists, yet Catholics (or other Christians) had zero to do with the Christchurch attack on a mosque and its worshippers. The latter was by a man who admires socialism, especially communist mainland China, and doesn't appear to believe in God.

Rita Panahi writes in 'News Ltd' about how Christianity (particularly Catholicism) is the most persecuted religion in the 21st century, despite Jesus' message being about love (not just 'tolerance').

Little or no comment from all the 'luvvie atheist lefties' about the latest atrocity directed against Catholics. With c.300 dead (perhaps more if some of the injured succumb), it's six or more times the scale of the Christchurch attack (although any loss of life is to be condemned).

I don't understand the attitude of scrapping Sir Lanka from one's list of nations to visit and enjoy.

One might choose to stay in areas other than Colombo, but it's most unfair to deny the locals income from tourism. They need us to put food on their tables.

We can't let Muslim terrorists defeat us. We don't resile from visiting Martin Place or Bourke St, and nor should we.

 

[drron]

I really believe the Sri Lanka bombings had nothing to do with the Christchurch shootings.It has occurred just over 5 weeks since that event.It has obviously been a very well planned attack and to have the first 6 bombs detonate at virtually the same time in different parts of the country suggest it would have needed a lot more time in planning,acquiring the explosives and then coordinating the attack.To me it seems it was already being planned to take place on Easter Sunday for the maximum shock and casualties.

 

[stm1sydney]

Yes, indeed, agree on all points per above two posts. Sri Lanka is now pushed back up towards the top of my list of places to visit again. We were last there in Christmas 2003 during a bit of a lull in the civil war. There was a significant and very visible (but not intrusive) security presence.

One of our fondest memories was going looking for a church in Colombo on Xmas morning for mass - we came across an Anglican church but the people were coming out. We asked them and they confirmed that the service had just ended, but a very helpful and kind local man offered to drive us around to a nearby Catholic church where mass was about to commence. Was a nice service conducted in three languages but the English was just as understandable as the Sinhalese and Tamil (ie, not at all) because of the heavy accent of the priest!

 

[amaroo]

Wonder if NZ tragedy had anything to do with it.

I have a couple of issues with this...

1. The World has been inundated with shooting/bombings/killings at places of worship. Even a failed decapitation, but successful murder of a priest doing Mass in France.

2. I'm no expert, but I believe there is no way you can plan, resource, and coordinate something like this in a month. SL minister said today they believe it was 7-8 years in the planning.

3. Chatter / intelligence was picked up by international services .... I doubt this would be possible if it was your simple backyard revenge job.

 

[Pushka]

I have a couple of issues with this...

1. The World has been inundated with shooting/bombings/killings at places of worship. Even a failed decapitation, but successful murder of a priest doing Mass in France.

2. I'm no expert, but I believe there is no way you can plan, resource, and coordinate something like this in a month. SL minister said today they believe it was 7-8 years in the planning.

3. Chatter / intelligence was picked up by international services .... I doubt this would be possible if it was your simple backyard revenge job.

There is no need to have any issues. It was merely a thought, nothing more and which other experts also considered as a possibility. The intricate nature of the attack became more apparent with the fullness of time. Hindsight.

 

[Melburnian1]

There is no need to have any issues. It was merely a thought, nothing more and which other experts also considered as a possibility. The intricate nature of the attack became more apparent with the fullness of time. Hindsight.

Pushka, you usually talk sense but your reply could have been written by a mandarin. Incomprehensible.

amaroo's post was comprehensible and arguable.

 

[wandering_fred]

The difference between the NZ and Sri Lankan incidents is one used GUNS. GUNS are inherently evil to some groups of people. IEDs are a foreign/unknown concept.

Just wandering
Fred

 

[oz_mark]

I really believe the Sri Lanka bombings had nothing to do with the Christchurch shootings.It has occurred just over 5 weeks since that event.It has obviously been a very well planned attack and to have the first 6 bombs detonate at virtually the same time in different parts of the country suggest it would have needed a lot more time in planning,acquiring the explosives and then coordinating the attack.To me it seems it was already being planned to take place on Easter Sunday for the maximum shock and casualties.

I agree, this seems to have been in the planning longer that 5 weeks.

Hotel Restaurants and Churches. A combination to ponder on. I wonder if the churches were added, or plan adjusted, due to Christchurch.