Date : 2019.04.24

24 April 2019

International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) strongly denounces the series of blast attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on the Easter Sunday, 21st of April 2019.  These explosions in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa have killed over 320 people and left more than 500 people wounded as reported in the media. We express our sincere condolences to the victims, their families and friends, and people of Sri Lanka. At the same time, we strongly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate these attacks in a swift and impartial manner and bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.

IMADR deeply regrets that again a religious minority community was targeted for heinous crimes. We have continuously called on the Government of Sri Lanka to take concrete and effective measures to punish perpetrators of hate crimes against religious minorities, counter incitements to hatred and violence, and promote religious harmony in the island. We are concerned by reports that hateful rhetoric targeting a particular religious minority community is spreading across the society after the attacks. We call on the Government to ensure the safety and dignity of all religious minorities in Sri Lanka.

The Government of Sri Lanka must end the impunity for attacks against religious minorities by conducting impartial investigations, bringing all perpetrators to account and providing necessary support to victims and their families.

———

Download the statement in the PDF format