'Easter Sunday attack child victims still traumatised’

At least some 770 children and adults who have been mentally disturbed as a result of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts in churches are being counselled by the Life Healing Centre that has been set up by the Catholic archdiocese of Colombo, it was revealed on Wednesday. 

This was revealed by Rev. Fr. Prasad Harshana who heads the counselling activities carried out by the church after the bomb attacks. Fr. Harshana told a media conference that some children who were at the church at the time of the bombing and managed to survive still cry out and faint when they see blood flowing even from a small wound. 

“We met a child who burst out crying when he saw his friend’s finger bleeding when he tried to sharpen his pencil with a blade and cut himself. There are some children who needed to change their school vans because of the route these vehicles were taking. 

School vans had to be changed as the children get frightened whenever the vehicles pass the churches which were bombed. These affected children did not want to go past the bombed church,” Fr Harshana said. 

Meanwhile, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo J. D Anthoney Jayakody revealed that a sum of Rs 350.7 million was received from various bodies as aid to help those who were affected by the terrorist attacks on April 21 this year. 

He said they came from the government, local and foreign corporate entities and individuals. Accordingly, he said every cent has been spent on affected people rather than spending for the renovation of buildings. 
“A sum Rs 16.8 million provided to the families of dead persons for immediate expenses, Rs 17.8 million for medical aid to 356 people who were injured, Rs 17 million for education assistance, Rs 10 million has been donated to Zion Church Batticaloa and Rs 53.1 million for housing. This amount has been allocated for those who were living in rented houses and had lost their breadwinners. Rs 35.2 million for day to day expenses of those who were affected, Rs 30.3 million for livelihood development for the affected people and Rs 32 million for those who have been disabled by the tragedy. Rs 102.5 million was given towards the education of affected children, Rs 8 million for the religious and spiritual upliftment of the affected people, Rs 8 million to provide psychological counselling while Rs 20 million has been set aside for any emergency need,” the Bishop said. (Yohan Perera)