Two Chinese nationals killed in Sri Lankan blasts

Two Chinese nationals were confirmed killed in a series of explosions in Sri Lanka on Sunday, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2019. [Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena]

The embassy is verifying the number of Chinese injured in the attacks.

The death toll from the blasts has risen to 207, and over 450 people were wounded, Sri Lankan police said.

Earlier information from the embassy said that four Chinese nationals were injured in the multiple church and hotel explosions that ripped through the island nation on the Easter day.

The Chinese Embassy has activated an emergency response mechanism immediately after the blasts, and embassy officials have visited the injured who were in hospital for treatment.

Security has been beefed up in Sri Lanka as the government imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. local time on Monday.