4 more Chinese feared dead in Colombo bombings: Chinese ambassador

Four more Chinese citizens were feared dead in the multiple bombing attacks in Sri Lanka, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan said on Wednesday.

Sri Lankan security personnel walk past debris next to a dead body slumped over a bench following an explosion in St Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of the capital Colombo, on April 21, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

Till now there are one Chinese citizen confirmed to be killed in the attacks, four feared dead, one still missing, and five injured, the Chinese ambassador told the Chinese media in his latest briefing.

Among the five injured Chinese citizens, four have been released from hospital, with one still undergoing treatment, he added.

The ambassador has met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to be updated with the latest development of the terrorist attacks and the casualties, and asked the Sri Lankan side to take great efforts to search, rescue and treat the Chinese victims, and properly handle the aftermath of the disaster.

The Chinese embassy has been trying all means to help the Chinese victims, working with the Sri Lankan side to search for the missing one, giving the injured proper medical treatment, and assisting the family of the deceased to take care of the rest, Cheng said.

The eight suicide bombing attacks in Sri Lanka on Sunday have killed at least 359 people and injured over 500. The Sri Lankan police have taken 58 suspects in custody.