View the full Easter Attack report here.
The Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka occurred on April 21, 2019, when a series of coordinated bombings targeted churches and luxury hotels across the country. The attacks, carried out by a local Islamist extremist group, resulted in the deaths of over 250 people, including many foreign nationals, and left hundreds more injured. The event shook the nation and sparked widespread discussions on national security, religious extremism, and the role of intelligence agencies in preventing such acts.
The attacks took place on Easter Sunday, a day of Christian celebration, and targeted worshippers during church services, as well as guests at high-end hotels in Colombo. St. Anthony’s Shrine, St. Sebastian’s Church, and Zion Church were among the religious sites hit, while hotels like Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand, and Kingsbury were also bombed.
Following the attacks, an investigation revealed lapses in communication between various government agencies, as warnings had been issued about a potential threat but were not acted upon in time. The government faced criticism over its handling of intelligence and security failures, leading to calls for reforms in the country’s defense and political systems.
