No Filipino hurt in Sri Lanka attacks — DFA
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2019 03:44:57 +0000
NO Filipino was hurt in the explosions that rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing more than 200 people, including several foreigners, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The Philippine government has extended its condolences to the families of the fatalities from the multiple bombings that targetted churches and hotels.
Ambassador to Bangladesh Vicente Vivencio Bandillo said that the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka contacted Philippine Honorary Consul to Colombo Hugh Sriyal Dissanayake, who informed his office that the embassy was in touch with the Filipino community in the affected area.
Established in 1981, the Association of Filipinos in Sri Lanka has 180 members as of April 2014.
“The community leaders reported that so far, there has been no report of any Filipino hurt in the explosions,” Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Fernandez said.
The explosions happened at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a city about 20 miles north of Colombo, the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa during Easter Sunday service.
There were also explosions at three hotels in Colombo: the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. proposed that the Philippines showed its solidarity with Sri Lanka by turning off the lights of tall buildings in Manila.
He made the suggestion as France’s Eiffel Tower is set “to go dark” on Monday midnight to express its support for Sri Lanka.
“The Philippines has no landmark like that (Eiffel Tower) or the Chrysler Building (in New York City, United States) but we can ask to turn off the lights of all tall buildings in our capital to show solidarity (with Sri Lanka). It’s a great idea,” Locsin said on Twitter.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also tweeted, “Easter day bombing on several churches attending Mass in Sri Lanka is really depressing. Praying for our brothers and sisters who perished and were injured in Sri Lanka.”
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