Colombo/Negombo, December 25 (newsin.asia): It was the first Christmas after the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks on several churches and posh hotels in Sri Lanka by a bunch of local Jehadis. More than 250 men, women and Children, foreigners and Sri Lankans perished in a trice, many more were wounded badly.
It was indeed the greatest blow that the Christian community in Sri Lanka had suffered in its 500-year history.
A photo feature done for Xinhua by its reporter cum phtographer Tang Lu who visited St. Anthony’s Church in Colombo and phtographer Gayan Sameera who visited St. Sabastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya in Negombo, revealed that the mood was sombre, though the churches were brilliantly lit.
Joy, mirth and merriment, which are so much part of Christmas, was conspicuously absent in both places. The worshipers walked into the churches gingerly, trusting in God, even as security provided by the government was tight.
Many of the worshipers were in tears. Some of wounded had been brought by their relations so that they could get some succor from the mass.
His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith led the Midnight Mass at the St Sebastian Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, where 93 people were killed, including 27 children.
The Sri Lankan navy helped rebuild the churches.
(Photos by Tang Lu and Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
