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.
| 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 | |
| Location | Katuwapitiya, Negombo |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Colombo |
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
- "Priests & Religious" (PDF).
- BBS News Staff (21 April 2019). "Sri Lanka attacks: More than 200 killed as churches and hotels targeted". BBC News. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- Bastians, Dharisha; Schultz, Kai (21 April 2019). "Sri Lanka Suicide Bombings Targeting Christians Kill Hundreds". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- "UNICEF says 45 children killed in Easter Day attacks". 25 April 2019.
- "President visits St.Sebastian's Church, Katuwapitiya,Negombo".
- Mihindukula, D. (24 April 2019). "Cardinal conducts Katuwapitiya funeral service". Daily News. Retrieved 1 July 2020.