No place for barbarism in our region: Modi on blasts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to convey India's heartfelt condolences on the loss of more than 200 lives in one of Asia's worst terror attacks.

Terming the serial blasts as cold-blooded and pre-planned barbaric acts, Modi pointed out that such attacks were another grim reminder of the most serious challenge posed to the entire humanity by terrorism in south-east Asia as well as in the entire world.

Whiling talking to the Sri Lankan leaders, he condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks, perpetrated at multiple sites including religious places and during a religious festival, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The prime minister also renewed the offer of all possible help and assistance to the island nation for ensuring its security against the challenges such as those posed by terrorism.

Earlier an MEA spokesperson observed that India had always opposed and rejected terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and had urged concerted action by the international community against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism as there could be no justification whatsoever for any act of terror.

“We call for perpetrators of such ghastly and heinous act and those who provide them support to be brought to justice expeditiously. We stand together with the people and Government of Sri Lanka in this hour of grief,” he said in a statement.