'We stand firmly behind Sri Lanka,' says PM Lee in condolence letter
SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Halimah Yacob have sent condolence letters to their respective counterparts in Sri Lanka following the spate of Easter Sunday (21 April) bombings in the country, which killed nearly 300 people.
“Singapore unequivocally condemns such senseless acts of violence against innocent civilians,” said Lee in offering his condolences on behalf of his government to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“That many of the victims were worshipping or spending the holiday weekend in your beautiful country makes this even more painful and shocking.
“We stand firmly behind Sri Lanka in its effort to preserve its hard-wrought peace and stability,” he added in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Monday.
Describing the attacks as “horrifying” and “heinous”, he also expressed his confidence that Sri Lanka will “remain united and find strength to overcome this grief and adversity” under Wickremesinghe’s leadership.
Four hotels and three churches were struck on Sunday, leaving 290 people killed and some 500 others injured. The attacks were followed by Sri Lanka’s government implementing a temporary curfew, shutting down social media access and arresting 24 people.
A senior investigator has also come out to say that at least seven suicide bombers took part in the killings. The attacks were the worst outbreak of violence in the country since its civil war ended nearly a decade ago.
Sensless violence
Meanwhile, Halimah said in her message to President Maithripala Sirisena that she was “deeply saddened” to learn of the attacks.
“Such senseless and indiscriminate acts of violence against innocent civilians in churches and hotels can never be justified.
“On behalf of the people of Singapore, I convey my deepest condolences and sympathies to those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy,” she added.
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