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Death toll in Sri Lankan attacks touches 207 - Police

NEW DELHI, April 21 (KUNA) -- The death toll of the eight blasts that hit churches and five star hotels in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and other cities on Sunday rose to 207 people, police sources announced.
Quoting Sri Lankan police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera, the Press Trust of India said that the toll following the string of attacks, considered to be one of the deadliest in the history of the island nation, rose to 207 people and injured 500 others including dozens of foreigners.
Three out of the first six blasts hit around 8.45 AM when the believers gathered for Easter Sunday mass at St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the town of Negombo and Zion Church in Batticaloa town.
The remaining three blasts occurred in the famous five star hotels including Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury in Colombo. Two other attacks took place latter in the day in the suburbs of Orugodawatta and Dehiwala killing at least three security men.
The frantic attacks forced the authorities to impose curfew with immediate effects and security was beefed up in and around the worshiping places. Schools and colleges were also asked to remain shut until further notice.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the cowardly attack and urged the people to stand united at this tragic time.
"I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today. I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong," he said.
"Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation." No party has owned the deadly attacks which shattered the facade of peace that prevailed in the island nation since the crushing of separatist civil war spearheaded by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The Sri Lankan army ended the LTTE military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces killing its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009. (end) atk.ibi