Lankan cricketer recounts church bombing horror

Sri Lankan cricketer Dasun Shanaka barely survived one of the deadly blasts that killed more than 320 people in the island nation on Easter Sunday, and says the horrific scenes have left him “scared” to go out.

The 27-year-old all-rounder skipped Easter service at St Sebastian's Church in his hometown of Negombo because of a long trip the day before, he told Cricinfo.

It was among six churches and hotels targeted by suicide bombers who killed 321 people and injured hundreds more -- the worst violence seen in the country since a civil war ended a decade ago.

The government has blamed the attacks on Islamist militants. “Normally I would have gone to church... (but) I was tired,” Shanaka told the website in comments published Monday.

“That morning, when I was at my house, I heard a sound, and then people were saying a bomb had gone off at the church. I rushed there, and I'll never forget the scene.

 

Lankan cricketer recounts church bombing horror

Sri Lankan cricketer Dasun Shanaka barely survived one of the deadly blasts that killed more than 320 people in the island nation on Easter Sunday, and says the horrific scenes have left him scared to go out. The 27-year-old all-rounder skipped Easter service at St Sebastians Church in his hometown of Negombo because of a long trip the day before, he told Cricinfo. It was among six churches and hotels targeted by suicide bombers who killed 321 people and injured hundreds more -- the worst violence seen in the country since a civil war ended a decade ago. The government has blamed the attacks on Islamist militants. Normally I would have gone to church... (but) I was tired, Shanaka told the website in comments published Monday. That morning, when I was at my house, I heard a sound, and then people were saying a bomb had gone off at the church. I rushed there, and Ill never forget the scene.