St. Sebastian's Church, Katuwapitiya

St. Sebastian's Church (Sinhala: ශාන්ත සෙබස්තියන් දේවස්ථානය, romanized: Śānta Sebastiyan Dēvasthānaya; Tamil: புனித செபஸ்தியார் தேவாலயம், romanized: Puṉita Cepastiyāṉ Tēvālayam) is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo.[1] It is located in Katuwapitiya, Negombo.

Not to be confused with St. Sebastian's Church, Wellaweediya, which was not targeted in the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings.
St. Sebastian's Church
ශාන්ත සෙබස්තියන් දේවස්ථානය
புனித செபஸ்தியார் தேவாலயம்
Surviving statue of Risen Jesus with blast marks and human blood after the Easter attack.
St. Sebastian's Church
Location in Sri Lanka
07°12′39.80″N 79°51′33.00″E
LocationKatuwapitiya, Negombo
CountrySri Lanka
DenominationRoman Catholic
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Administration
ArchdioceseColombo

On 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, the church was one in a series of targets of a string of bomb blasts across Sri Lanka.[2] Media reported at least 93 people killed at the church,[3] UNICEF reported that 27 children died and 10 children were injured.[4] Altogether 45 children were killed in all blasts. President Maithripala Sirisena visited the church to inquire after the situation and inspect damages.[5] The victims' funeral Mass was conducted at the church premises by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.[6]

References
  1. "Priests & Religious" (PDF).
  2. BBS News Staff (21 April 2019). "Sri Lanka attacks: More than 200 killed as churches and hotels targeted". BBC News. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  3. Bastians, Dharisha; Schultz, Kai (21 April 2019). "Sri Lanka Suicide Bombings Targeting Christians Kill Hundreds". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  4. "UNICEF says 45 children killed in Easter Day attacks". 2019-04-25.
  5. "President visits St.Sebastian's Church, Katuwapitiya,Negombo".
  6. "Cardinal conducts Katuwapitiya funeral service".
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