FM Qureshi calls Sri Lankan PM to express deepest condolences

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday telephoned the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to express his deepest condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the people of Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.

He conveyed sympathies for the families that lost their loved ones in the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

He stressed that Pakistan fully understood the pain of their Sri Lankan brethren.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and completely understood the trauma and agony suffered by the people of Sri Lanka.

He said being a victim of prolonged terrorism itself Pakistan stood with Sri Lanka in its difficult hour.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi also extended Pakistan’s all out help and support to the government and people of Sri Lanka in this moment of tragedy.

A string of blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 185 people, including 35 foreigners.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the attacks as “cowardly” and said the government was working to “contain the situation”.

Images circulating on social media and local news stations showed extensive damage at one of three churches targeted in the near simultaneous blasts on Sunday morning.

Much of the church roof was blown out in the explosion, with roof tiles and splintered wood littering the floor and pools of blood in between wounded worshippers.