Eigth blast hits Sri Lanka capital as death toll nears 160

Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony`s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on 21 April 2019. Photo: AFP
Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony`s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on 21 April 2019. Photo: AFP

A new blast hit the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Sunday, police said, the eighth explosion in the country in a single day.

Police said the blast hit the suburb of Orugodawatta in the north of the capital, but there were no further details on what was targeted.

Nearly 160 people have been confirmed dead so far in the string of attacks targeting hotels and churches.

Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony`s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on 21 April 2019. Photo: AFP
Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony`s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on 21 April 2019. Photo: AFP