5th-grader was vic

Youngster from D.C. slain in Sri Lanka terror bombing

A fifth-grade student at a prestigious Washington, D.C., school has been identified as the second American killed in Sunday’s coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka, according to a letter obtained Monday by CNN.

The boy, Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa (left), was on a leave of absence from Sidwell Friends School and was living and studying in Sri Lanka, the principal said in a letter to parents. He was scheduled to return next year for middle school.

“Kieran was passionate about learning, he adored his friends, and he was incredibly excited about returning to Sidwell Friends this coming school year,” the letter said, according to CNN. “We are beyond sorry not to get the opportunity to welcome Kieran to the Middle School.”

The State Department said at least four Americans died and several others were injured in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, but it would not release any names on Monday. The family of another American victim confirmed his identity as Dieter Kowalski (right), a 40-year-old Denver man who was in the country on business.

The terrorist attacks targeted hotels and churches, mostly in the island nation’s capital, Colombo. At least 290 people were killed and more than 500 others were hurt.

Two U.S. officials told CNN Monday that a key suspect in the Easter massacre may have ties to international terrorism groups, including ISIS. U.S. investigators are now trying to determine what role ISIS may have played in the attacks, according to reports.

The news came amid fingerpointing in Sri Lanka as allies of the country’s prime minister accused the government’s top security officials of ignoring warnings about a bloody assault by the radical Muslim group blamed for the bloodshed.

International intelligence agencies had warned that the little-known group, National Thowfeek Jamaath, was planning attacks, but word apparently didn’t reach the prime minister’s office until after the massacre, the Associated Press said.

Sri Lankan authorities kept Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe — who was ousted in October by the president, but then restored to his position by a Supreme Court ruling — in the dark, two top officials have claimed.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told reporters at a news conference that international intelligence agencies first warned Sri Lankan officials about the risk of an Easter Sunday attack on April 4, about two weeks before the bombings. The defense minister even wrote a letter to the police chief on April 9 that included names of members of the terror group that would carry out the bombings, but that letter and one by the police chief to other officials never reached the prime minister, Senaratne said.

It was not immediately clear what action, if any, was taken after the threats. Authorities said they knew where the group trained and had safe houses, but did not identify any of the suicide bombers, whose bodies were recovered, or the two dozen other suspects taken into custody.

All the bombers were Sri Lankans, but authorities said they strongly suspected foreign links, Senaratne said.