With a diaspora estimated to be more than 100,000 people of Sri Lankan origin and descent in Canada, the bombings that rocked hotels and churches in the South Asian community Sunday were felt here, as well as by Canadians who were in the vicinity at the time. Canadian Chris Plosaj was eating breakfast at Colombo’s Shangri-La Hotel — one site of the bombings — just 10 minutes before the restaurant was rocked by two massive explosions.“The place we were eating less than 10 minutes prior is now a black hole with rubble,” said Plosaj, an Ottawa native now living in Hong Kong.He added that he and his friend decided to head back up to their hotel room to pack when he heard a loud thud that sounded like someone falling off a bed a floor above. Then, a minute or so later, a much louder boom that shook the window and the floor.Plosaj said that he knew “something was wrong” shortly after because he heard sirens and saw the military police running toward the hotel. Then, he the hotel alarm went off advising the guests to evacuate.“We took the stairs from the 23rd floor. The lower we got, the more blood we saw. It started as drips and then pools of water and blood, gathered in the flooded hallways,” he added.“I can’t believe it happened. It’s such a beautiful country and the people are so wonderful,” Plosaj said. “The Sri Lankan people have been so warm and welcoming here.” Canada’s department of Global Affairs says it has no reports of any Canadians caught in the blasts. But those in Canada with personal ties to Sri Lanka were reeling on Sunday.“Obviously, the Canadian Tamil Congress, we are saddened by this, and we strongly condemn this attack. We send our sympathies and condolences to those families and friends of those were affected due to this bomb blasts. And also, we call on the government of Sri Lanka to bring the perpetrators to justice, as quickly as possible,R ...
|
