Iran Press/Asia: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned a string of blasts that killed at least 156 people on Sunday as 'cowardly' and said the government was working to 'contain the situation,' according to CNA.
"I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today," he said in a tweet from his verified account.
"I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong... The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation.
President Maithripala Sirisena in an address said he was shocked by the explosions and appealed to the public to stay calm.
"Emergency meeting called in a few minutes. Rescue operations underway," Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva, said in a tweet on his verified account.
He said he had been to two of the attacked hotels and was at the scene at St Anthony's Shrine, and described "horrible scenes."
"I saw many body parts strewn all over," he tweeted, adding that there were "many casualties including foreigners."
"Please stay calm and indoors," he added.
Multiple bomb explosions targeting two Catholic churches in Sri Lanka and two hotels on Easter Sunday left at least 156 dead and 300 injured, including 35 foreigners.
One bomb has exploded at St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade and the other at St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana, according to Colombo Page.
Two other explosions also reported at the luxury Shangri-La Hotel and Cinnamon Grand in Colombo today.
All explosions have occurred at the same time at around 8:45 am local time, reports from Colombo suggest.
According to sources at the Colombo National Hospital, the injured are being brought in now. The number of fatalities may increase as some of the injured are said to be in a critical condition. 208/211/103
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Multiple blasts hit Sri Lanka churches, hotels on Easter Sunday; 156 dead, 300 injured
