Sri Lanka bomb blasts: Vaas, Herath call for unity

Post the ghastly Sri Lanka bomb blasts, cricket legends Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath have called for unity and expressed their sympathies.

Published : Apr 23, 2019 19:07 IST , Mumbai

Sri Lanka cricket legends Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath interact during an event on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka cricket legends Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath interact during an event on Tuesday.
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Sri Lanka cricket legends Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath interact during an event on Tuesday.

It’s been a couple of days since Easter Sunday’s series of bomb blasts killed at least 321 people in Colombo. As the people of country mourn, Sri Lanka’s cricket legends, Chaminda Vaas and Rangana Herath, called for unity.

“We never thought these kind of things will happen in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a lovely country and hospitable. People are very friendly. It is so tragic to see such things happen,” Vaas said during a local tournament here on Tuesday.

“We can rebuild churches or hotels but we can’t bring lives back. I am sure the Sri Lankan government and the people will be very united this time and make sure that they stick together,” Vaas, who has played 111 Tests and 322 ODIs said.

READ: Chaminda Vaas: ‘India will definitely reach the semifinals’

Herath also echoed similar views. “We need to convey our deepest sympathies and condolences. As Chaminda said, we are a united country. We kind of have a panicky situation but (we are sure that) we (will) become a strong country,” said Herath.

Asked whether the attacks will have an impact on Sri Lanka hosting international cricket in the future, Vaas said: “These attacks can happen anywhere in the world. We saw in New Zealand recently as well. These people doesn’t have simply one place (and) they can attack anywhere in the world. I am pretty sure that things will go back to normal.”

After the attack, the Sri Lankan government declared a national day of mourning on Tuesday and white flags were hung from buildings across Colombo.

A three-minute silence was held from 8.30am, about the time of the first of Sunday’s bombings which targeted three churches and three luxury hotels.

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