Horrific moment Aussie man finds wife and daughter dead after Sri Lankan church bombing
An Australian father has described the heartbreaking moment he found his wife and daughter who were killed in the Sri Lankan terror attacks.
Sudesh Kolonne had briefly left the church after a service when a bomb went off, claiming Manik Suriyaaratchi and their 10-year-old daughter, Alexendria.
"There was a bomb blast, I heard a huge noise and I jump into the church and I saw that my daughter and my wife was on the floor," he told ABC from Colombo.
"I don't know what to do. And I was...Just saw my daughter on the floor and I tried to lift her up, she's already dead, exactly the same next, my wife is dead.
"That's the end of the story - end of the story of my daughter, my wife."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the identity of Manik Suriaaratchi and Alexendria on Tuesday.
The family were attending an Easter Sunday service in Negombo when they died in the attacks, which have claimed at least 290 lives.
Billionaire ASOS owner's three children killed in Sri Lanka bombings
Eerie moment 'calm bomber' walks into church before deadly Sri Lanka explosion
Mr Morrison said he would be speaking to Mr Kolonne later on Tuesday to offer support.
"It is just the most sickening of news," the prime minister told Seven's Sunrise program.
"I can't imagine what it's like for him to lose a little 10-year-old girl, to lose his wife Manik.
"His whole world has been rocked by these events. We just have to reach out and hold them and hold each other as Australians."
Alexendria was born in Melbourne and the family lived in the city's southeast but had returned to Sri Lanka in recent years.
Mr Morrison said there was still no evidence of who was responsible for the blasts which targeted hotels and churches on Easter Sunday.
"This is just such horrible news," he told Sky News.
Two Australians - both of whom were dual citizens - were also injured but are in a stable condition, with one treated for shrapnel wounds and the other a broken leg.
Mr Morrison said the pair would receive consular support but he had no information about other Australians hurt.
More than 500 people have been injured in the bomb blasts that ripped through three churches, three luxury hotels and a guesthouse on Easter Sunday.
Labor leader Bill Shorten has described the attacks as devastating.
"Easter Sunday's senseless and barbaric murder of hundreds of citizens, including two Australians and 500 injured, is something we should all mourn and we do," he told reporters in Townsville.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
