What’s behind Sri Lanka Easter attacks?
Hundreds killed and injured in coordinated attacks on churches and hotels on the South Asian island.
Sri Lanka‘s Easter Sunday turned into a scene of death and destruction. Churches and luxury hotels were targeted in at least eight coordinated blasts.
Hundreds of people were killed, many as they attended Christian services. Police say the first six explosions happened in one wave, two more blasts came hours later.
The bombings took place in the heart of the capital, Colombo, and in the cities of Negombo and Batticaloa
A curfew was imposed and major social media networks blocked, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
The attacks were the worst since the South Asian country’s civil war ended in 2009.
Sri Lanka’s prime minister vowed to take action against those responsible.
What does it mean for Sri Lanka, which is still recovering from decades of civil war?
Presenter: Richelle Carey
Guests:
Jehan Perera – Executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
Charu Lata Hogg – Associate fellow, Asia-Pacific programme at Chatham House
Gehan Gunatilleke – Researcher at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights and legal director of Verite Research in Sri Lanka