Two Australians dead in Sri Lanka bombings

A MUM and her daughter have been revealed as the Australians tragically killed in Sri Lanka.

Tributes have flowed on Facebook for Manik Suriaaratchi and daughter Alexandria, who were killed while attending Easter Mass at a Negombo church.

Sri Lankan-Australians have remembered the pair on Facebook. “You will never be forgotten and always in our hearts,” Facebook user Lucien Pereira wrote, calling Alexandria an “angel”.

Devastated journalists from news platform AusNewsLanka, an online news magazine for Sri Lankans in Australia, confirmed last night the mother and daughter, from the southeast suburbs of Victoria, were victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Suranga Tennakoon also posted on Facebook last night: “We lost another most valuable asset to hospitality industry,she is Manik Suriaaratchi My deepest sympathies. So sorry to hear of your loss.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed their deaths and Australian injuries yesterday afternoon, in the Easter Sunday blast which has killed at least 290 people and injured more than 500.

The two deceased were related and living in Sri Lanka.

Mr Morrison said out of respect for the family, no further details were available on Manik and her daughter, other than one of the victims was a dual national.

Of the injured Australians, one was a woman in her mid-50s and a woman in her mid to late 20s.

“Out of respect for the family I can’t provide any further detail about these individuals other than to say we deeply regret these deaths,” Mr Morrison said. “We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathy to the family.”

The two injured women also held dual citizenship, Mr Morrison said.

“Both are in a stable condition, I understand,” Mr Morrison said. “One was treated for shrapnel wounds and the other was treated for a broken leg.”

The Prime Minister could not rule out more Australians being injured or killed in the Sri Lankan tragedy.

“The circumstances of this horrible massacre – we are now at a level where we have over 500 people injured,” he said. “And when it comes to those who are deceased, the most recent figures we have now is the death toll has risen to 290, that is what the police are reporting.

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