NEW DELHI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st April, 2019) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a phone conversation with Sri Lankan president and prime minister on Sunday renewed an offer of assistance to the country in ensuring security after a series of deadly explosions hit the nation earlier in the day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement.
Eight blasts took place in Sri Lanka on the Easter day, hitting several churches with Catholic worshipers and hotels in the country's capital of Colombo and other cities. According to media reports, the attacks claimed lives of some 200 people.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had telephonic conversations with the President and Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and conveyed heartfelt condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of all Indians at the loss of ... innocent lives in today's terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka ... Prime Minister renewed the offer of all possible help and assistance to Sri Lanka for ensuring its security against the challenges such as those posed by terrorism," the statement said.
Th statement also noted that Modi condemned the attacks and said that it was a "grim reminder" of a challenge posed to the global community by terrorism.
�Earlier in the day, media reported that the Sri Lankan authorities had declared a curfew across the country from 6:00 p.m. Sunday to 6:00 a.m. Monday local time (from 12:30 p.m. Sunday to 00:30 a.m. Monday GMT) following the attacks.
