Notable incidents on Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Raid 1942 Easter Sunday Attacks 2019

Eighty years ago on April 5, during World War II, the Japanese Navy conducted an air attack on Colombo, aiming to destroy the British Eastern Fleet. A similar attack targeted Trincomalee a few days later.

On the morning of April 21, 2019, coordinated bombings took place in seven locations across Sri Lanka, including three churches (St. Sebastian’s Church – Katuwapitiya, St. Anthony’s Church – Kochchikade, Zion Church – Batticaloa) and three luxury hotels in Colombo (Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and The Kingsbury).

The attacks claimed the lives of 269 people and injured over 500 others.

Statue at St. Sebastian's Church stained with the blood of the victims of the bombing.