World Leaders Express Condolences Over Deadly Blasts In Sri Lanka

(@FahadShabbir)

World Leaders Express Condolences Over Deadly Blasts in Sri Lanka

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st April, 2019) Global leaders and politicians, including EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, US President Donald Trump and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, have expressed condolences over the deadly explosions in Sri Lanka that hit several locations across the country on Easter Sunday.

Eight blasts took place in Sri Lanka earlier on Sunday, hitting several churches with Catholic worshipers and hotels in the country's capital of Colombo and other cities. According to media reports, the attacks claimed lives of over 200 people.

"The European Union offers its most sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have been killed and wishes a speedy recovery to the many wounded," Mogherini said in a statement.

Trump also expressed condolences and said that the United States was ready to help Sri Lanka in light of the attacks.

"The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

Medvedev called the attacks "barbaric" and said that Russia shared the grief of the Sri Lankans.

"On behalf of the Russian Government and myself I express my deepest condolences in connection with the numerous victims of a series of terrorist acts in Sri Lanka. This barbaric crime, committed on Catholic Easter, cannot be forgiven. We share the grief and pain of the friendly Sri Lankan people," Medvedev said, as quoted by the government's press service.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Theresa May also condemned the blasts and expressed condolences over the attacks. Besides, the foreign ministries of Australia, Belgium, Germany, and Poland conveyed their condolences over the victims of the explosions as well.�

In addition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed a message with deep condolences to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, while Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu compared Sri Lankan blasts with the mosque attacks in New Zealand's Christchurch in mid-March.

New Zealand was rocked by two mass shootings on March 15 at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch that left 50 people dead and 50 more injured.