Sri Lanka blasts: TV chef and daughter first named victims of Easter attacks

Facebook photo shows family eating breakfast on morning of attack before hotel hit by bomb

A well-known TV chef and her daughter are the first victims of the Sri Lanka Easter bombings to be named.

Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter Nisanga had been staying at the Shangri-La hotel, in the country’s capital Colombo, which was one of four luxury hotels targeted on Sunday.

Ms Mayadunne’s daughter shared a group photo on Facebook on the morning of the bombings, with the caption: “Easter breakfast with family.”

According to her Facebook page, Nisanga had studied at the University of London.

At least 207 were killed and about 450 injured in eight separate explosions across the country.

Three churches and three luxury hotels were targeted in quick succession from about 8.45am in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa.

Just hours later more blasts rang out in Dehiwala and Dematagoda on the outskirts of Colombo.

The Easter attacks, which coincided with the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar, are the worst bloodshed Sri Lanka has seen since its brutal civil war ended a decade ago.

Radha Fonseca, 34, a Sri Lankan expat living in Dubai, described Ms Mayadunne as a “well-respected and an inspirational chef”.

She told Gulf News: “Nisanga was a very popular girl in college. Besides the fact that she was bright and smart, her mother Shantha Mayadume, a renowned chef, made her more popular in college.”

At least five Brits have also been confirmed dead by the country’s ministry of foreign affairs.

Three were from the UK and two held dual US and UK citizenship.

The known nationalities of foreigners killed are listed as three from India, one from Portugal, two from Turkey, three from the UK and two holding US and UK nationality.

A Dutch national and a Chinese national have also been reported as among the victims.

A foreign ministry statement also said nine foreigners have been reported missing, while there are reportedly 25 unidentified bodies believed to be those of foreigners at the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer’s mortuary.

The British high commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris has urged Britons to get in touch with family members to let them know they are safe.

Mr Dauris said it was too soon to say how many British people had been affected.

He added: “I’ve been speaking this afternoon with Brits in hospital who have been affected by today’s senseless attacks.

“My team’s and my thoughts go out to all those people who are suffering as a result of the deplorable violence Sri Lanka has witnessed this Easter Sunday.”