The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of India has strongly condemned the attack on churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
Condemning the attack, in a statement issued by Rev. G.S. Lyttan, senior administrative secretary, Presbyterian Church of India, Shillong (Meghalaya), said “we strongly condemn such acts to occur not only In Sri Lanka but anywhere in the world and instead, unitedly work for peace and harmony”.
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“The Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) has come to learn about the bomb blasts which took place this morning around 08:45 A.M (Colombo Time) in Sri Lanka. Colombo and its suburbs targeting Hotels and Churches while having their Easter Worship Services whereby more than 180 precious human lives were killed and 600 critically injured,” the statement reads.
The statement further reads: “Today, being Easter Sunday in which Christians all over the world celebrate the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago and yet, allegedly suicide bombers had planned and carried out their dastardly attacks to disturb peace and tranquility, cut short lives of innocents and revive suspicion and distrust.”
Conveying heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved, the Presbyterian Church of India also prayed to the Almighty for comfort and strength as well, healing and recovery to the injured.
“We empathize with all who suffered from this physical, mental and spiritual trauma. We urge upon the Sri Lankan Government to do its very best to stop further heinous and dastardly acts and that it should not escalate and spread like a contagious disease,” it added.
A per media reports, a series of eight bombings in Sri Lanka targeting Christian churches and hotels in three cities including Colombo killed at least 207 people and wounded up to 450 others on Easter Sunday.
Sri Lankan defense minister Ruwan Wijewardene described the coordinated blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists.