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Photos | What they left behind: Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombing victims

More than 250 people were killed and hundreds more injured in eight blasts that rocked churches and hotels in and just outside Sri Lanka’s capital on Easter Sunday, pitching the island nation into the worst chaos since the end of its civil war 10 years ago. Most of the victims were Sri Lankan, from all walks of life: a top chef, a teenage basketball player, an autorickshaw driver, a carpenter. They left behind treasured possessions those that loved them cannot bear to move, as well as the empty spaces where they lived, worked and played.

Updated on: May 20, 2019 3:42 PM IST

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In Sri Lanka, weeks after the devastating bomb attacks, the school bag of Wishmi, 14, lies on her bedspread. “I don’t feel like my daughters have left me. I don’t want to accept it,” Chandima said, her face bandaged from a shrapnel wound. Men, women and children of all ages were among those killed in the blasts across the country, claimed by Islamic State, that targeted churches and hotels. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

In Sri Lanka, weeks after the devastating bomb attacks, the school bag of Wishmi, 14, lies on her bedspread. “I don’t feel like my daughters have left me. I don’t want to accept it,” Chandima said, her face bandaged from a shrapnel wound. Men, women and children of all ages were among those killed in the blasts across the country, claimed by Islamic State, that targeted churches and hotels. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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An entire family, including three children, died in an explosion at St Anthony’s Church on Easter Sunday, one of a series of coordinated attacks by suicide bombers that killed more than 250 people. The youngest of the child victims was only 11 months old. An eight-year old cousin, Joshua, is struggling to come to terms with the loss. “I love my cousins. I’m sure they’ll be back soon and then we can cycle and play in the street,” he said. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

An entire family, including three children, died in an explosion at St Anthony’s Church on Easter Sunday, one of a series of coordinated attacks by suicide bombers that killed more than 250 people. The youngest of the child victims was only 11 months old. An eight-year old cousin, Joshua, is struggling to come to terms with the loss. “I love my cousins. I’m sure they’ll be back soon and then we can cycle and play in the street,” he said. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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A three-wheeler belonging to Sampath Wishwakeerthi, 45, who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church, is parked outside his house in Negombo. Most of the victims were Sri Lankan, from all walks of life: a top chef, a teenage basketball player, an autorickshaw driver, a carpenter. They left behind treasured possessions those that loved them cannot bear to move, as well as the empty spaces where they lived, worked and played. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

A three-wheeler belonging to Sampath Wishwakeerthi, 45, who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church, is parked outside his house in Negombo. Most of the victims were Sri Lankan, from all walks of life: a top chef, a teenage basketball player, an autorickshaw driver, a carpenter. They left behind treasured possessions those that loved them cannot bear to move, as well as the empty spaces where they lived, worked and played. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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Photos of Rashini, 13, her sister Shalomi, 10, and brother Shalom, seven, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings, are seen inside their house. Pradeep Thusantha who lost his wife and children was outside the church. “Me and my wife were deeply in love for the last 15 years. I worked hard to keep my family happy. Now I just have to leave this country and work for God for the rest of my life.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

Photos of Rashini, 13, her sister Shalomi, 10, and brother Shalom, seven, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings, are seen inside their house. Pradeep Thusantha who lost his wife and children was outside the church. “Me and my wife were deeply in love for the last 15 years. I worked hard to keep my family happy. Now I just have to leave this country and work for God for the rest of my life.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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A bike stands outside the unfinished house of Lahiru Prasanga Fernando, 34, and his wife Diliini Sangeewani, 34,who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. “They had been married for more than 15 years and were so happy together. They were childless but treated this house as their kid. They were building it slowly for the last few years. Now they’ve left me alone in this house,” said Sudarshni Fernando, mother of Lahiru. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

A bike stands outside the unfinished house of Lahiru Prasanga Fernando, 34, and his wife Diliini Sangeewani, 34,who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. “They had been married for more than 15 years and were so happy together. They were childless but treated this house as their kid. They were building it slowly for the last few years. Now they’ve left me alone in this house,” said Sudarshni Fernando, mother of Lahiru. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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An empty basketball court where Jackson, 13, used to play is seen in Batticalao. Jackson, a promising basketball player who was captain of his school team, died on the spot. “He was my only child. I coached him to play basketball and we enjoyed playing together. Now my whole future generation is gone. Nothing is left,” said his father, Arasaratnam Verl, as he looked at Jackson’s jerseys and basketball. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

An empty basketball court where Jackson, 13, used to play is seen in Batticalao. Jackson, a promising basketball player who was captain of his school team, died on the spot. “He was my only child. I coached him to play basketball and we enjoyed playing together. Now my whole future generation is gone. Nothing is left,” said his father, Arasaratnam Verl, as he looked at Jackson’s jerseys and basketball. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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Sewing machine of Kritika, 49, a housewife, who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings, is seen inside her house. Priyantha Jayakody had skipped morning mass at St. Sebastian’s Church that day because of an injured foot. His wife Kritika, and their 17-year-old-son, who were both at the service, were nowhere to be seen. Since that day, Kritika’s sewing machine has sat in the family’s living room, a spool of thread loaded, awaiting her return. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

Sewing machine of Kritika, 49, a housewife, who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings, is seen inside her house. Priyantha Jayakody had skipped morning mass at St. Sebastian’s Church that day because of an injured foot. His wife Kritika, and their 17-year-old-son, who were both at the service, were nowhere to be seen. Since that day, Kritika’s sewing machine has sat in the family’s living room, a spool of thread loaded, awaiting her return. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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A fourth grade classroom attended by Kevin Kuventhirarasa is seen inside a private school in Batticalao. Schools across Sri Lanka have begun to reopen but in Batticaloa, one student, nine-year-old Kevin Kuventhirarasa, will never return. He was killed while at Sunday school at the Zion Church. “He was very active, generous and helpful,” said his teacher Vijithakumary Suthagar, in the empty classroom where she used to teach him. “I don’t know how will I explain his absence to his classmates.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on May 20, 2019 3:42 PM

A fourth grade classroom attended by Kevin Kuventhirarasa is seen inside a private school in Batticalao. Schools across Sri Lanka have begun to reopen but in Batticaloa, one student, nine-year-old Kevin Kuventhirarasa, will never return. He was killed while at Sunday school at the Zion Church. “He was very active, generous and helpful,” said his teacher Vijithakumary Suthagar, in the empty classroom where she used to teach him. “I don’t know how will I explain his absence to his classmates.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

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