The day began with a quiet Sunday morning in Colombo, Sri Lanka. By mid-morning, however, an explosion shattered the calm at St Anthony's Shrine, followed by nine more blasts targeting other Christian sites and luxury hotels across the country.
These coordinated attacks killed over 269 people and injured hundreds more, targeting worshippers during Easter services and tourists enjoying holiday meals. The perpetrators were identified as members of a little-known local extremist group with links to global jihadist networks.
The bombings shocked Sri Lanka's multi-faith society and drew international condemnation for their brutality and religious targeting. They highlighted the increasing threat of radicalized elements within South Asia and the challenges faced by governments in combatting homegrown extremism.