Devastated relatives collapsed into the arms of bystanders at memorial services Tuesday, as Sri Lanka began burying victims of deadly weekend suicide blasts that claimed over 320 lives.
"We haven't felt this sad since the war," said 36-year-old Rashmi Fernando, referring to the civil conflict that ravaged the country until a decade ago.
"I lost three cousins in the attack and another one is in ICU," said Fernando, who was attending a service at the heavily damaged St Sebastian's Church in Negombo with her daughters, aged three and eight.
"We're here to pay our respects and pray that my injured cousin will recover."
"The situation is so bad. Yesterday I went to a house and there were seven bodies. As a Catholic priest, I have not experienced this kind of situation in my lifetime."
"I liked going to the church, I found it relaxing," she said. "Being here, I feel very sad," she added, "I feel afraid living so nearby."
"It's beyond words to explain what happened," he said. "It's the first time I heard a sound like that. I saw people screaming, injured, bodies (on the ground)."
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