Sri Lanka Attacks: So Far No News of Deaths or Injuries to Current or Former Staff

Many of us are asking about friends and family who may have been affected by yesterday morning' s attacks in Colombo.




If you know of any current or former staff or families affected, please let us know. Here is what we know so far:




1. Nimal Hettiaratchy

Thanks to Subhash Das Gupta who passed on a message from Nimal Hettiaratchy that Nimal and his wife Tilika are safe, but in mourning for the loss of their sister-in-law and her daughter. The two were sitting at breakfast in the Shangrila Hotel when one of the bombs went off. I have also heard subsequently from Nimal.


2. Ramesh Rajasingham and his wife Jasmin had arrived in Colombo only the day before the attacks. Thankfully, both are safe.


3. Rohini de Silva has written to say


" Thank you Tom. It was frightening as most family and friends were in church for Easter but fortunately not in ones attacked. Retired Unicef Colombo staff all ok I was able to contact most of them. Did not know the lady wad related to nimal. How sad.

After 10 years of mostly peace it is scary what comes next political situ not good

And opposition hardliners snd nationslists. Tourism big earner damaged and employment losses will lead to more nationalism. Why is there so much hate heartbreaking "



4. Leo Fonseka

Thanks to Dev Chopra for contacting Leo and relaying the good news that he and family are well..

Dear Dev,

Thanks for the enquiry,

We were at our local church when the news reached us. After the Easter service, we rushed home, shocked, bewildered and disgusted.The nation wil need months to recover from it.

We were in a false sense of security. The family had lunch last Sunday at the same restaurant at Cinnamon Grand celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary. Today, it's gone.colleagues here are all safe.

The Sri Lanka church is devastated by the news. The motive of the attack is unknown. We are happy that the police in lightening speed was able to catch the culprits within 3 hours in their own den, without any previous knowledge of its existence.

Our family, friends and relations are all safe. After a short holiday here, Sraddha, our younger daughter returned to D.C. this morning. She left SL a few hours before the incident. Kumari, the elder daughter's plan to leave today morning for Kerala to see her parents in law had to be cancelled as tHe police detected and defused an explosive device in the vicinity of the airport.

Our UN colleagues here are also safe.

Thank you for your love, concern and enquiry.



GOD BLESS YOU AND FAMILY.


5. Bertie Mendis


Hi Tom,


Thank you for your concern. Fortunately everyone in my family (managed to get through to them by phone) are safe and well. My younger sister was attending Easter services in church...when security personnel requested the priest to evacuate the church. It was not one of the churches that was bombed. Myrna’s family are in Australia and Canada.


Good to know UNICEF staff too were not affected.


Warm regards. Bertie


6. Moreena Hassim and Lakshman and Gauri Wickramsinghe



Bijaya Rajbhandari has been in touch with them and reports.


Dear Tom,

Thanks for the update. I was in touch with Moreena Hassim and Lakshman and Gauri Wickramsinghe. Both are doing are safe and well.

May be you would like to update

Regards




7. Chitra Jayawardena

Thank you for the information.


Am safe and back in New York.


Look forward to receiving updates.


7. Tim Sutton, UNICEF's Representative, has written to say that he had met with the Sri Lanka retirees just last week. He has not heard of any losses or injuries among them, but is attempting to contact all tomorrow to confirm.


8. Hanaa Singer (UNRC) - we have now written to express our sympathy to any UN families that may have been affected.




9. UNICEF

So far UNICEF has not issued a statement, but instead has posted the UN statement:


2019 April 21 (Colombo, Sri Lanka) - The United Nations in Sri Lanka strongly condemns the attacks against civilians carried out in places of worship and city hotels on Easter Sunday. The United Nations in Sri Lanka expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and victims as well as the Government and people of Sri Lanka and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. Attacks such as these are aimed at undermining the unity of the people of Sri Lanka, the United Nations urges authorities, and all citizens to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, human rights are protected, and security and safety is ensured for all.



Tom