Pompeo visit St. Anthony's Shrine to pay respects to victims of Easter Sunday attacks

US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo today visited the St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo to pay his respects to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks. The church was targeted by a terrorist Islamic fundamentalist group which orchestrated the attacks last year killing over 300 persons and hundreds injured. 

“I'll travel- it’s important for me to take a moment to go and visit the Shrine of St. Anthony, one of the five sites that was attacked by ISIS on Easter Sunday of 2019.  I’ll shortly have the chance to pay my respects to the hundreds of victims of evil terrorists, including five Americans,” Secretary Pompeo said earlier during a press briefing before visit.

He said he is also proud that the State Department has offered substantial counterterrorism assistance to help Sri Lankans bring killers of Americans and their own people to justice.  “These Easter Sunday attacks represent the kind of sectarianism that Sri Lankans are ready to leave behind forever.  Sri Lankans of all backgrounds – Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims alike – want a peaceful nation where their human rights are respected.”