The Sri Lankan Association of New York declared a national day of mourning today for the 290 killed and hundreds wounded in the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
“It was heartbreaking to hear such horrendous acts of violence on this holiest of days of the Christian faith,” the Association said in a statement on Facebook. “No one should ever be intimated and should ever have to practice their faith in fear. Terrorism has no religion, race, gender, or nationality. We all must stand against terrorism and all acts of violence. Our hearts go out to all the victims’ families. #prayforSriLanka.”
The Association founded in 1970 represents Sri Lankan expatriates living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
It held an interfaith vigil Tuesday night at the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque in Somerset, New Jersey. According to the Franklin Reporter, some 200 people attended.
Among those leading the service was Amrith Rohan Perera, Sri Lanka’s United Nation’s ambassador. He called the bombings “an attack on all humanity” and the most “heinous attack on our values.”
Somerset Mayor Phil Kramer called for unity.
“You are us, we are you. This is our tragedy. This is not your tragedy,” said Kramer. “We are one and we are together.”
A second vigil was held at the St. Adalbert Church on Staten Island in NY last night.
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