Security staff stand on guard outside the St. Anthony's Church where a blast took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 21, 2019. (Xinhua/A.Hapuarachchi)
COLOMBO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka remains in mourning following a wave of bombings on Sunday. The ensuing carnage was an indication of the need to stand firm in the fight against terrorism.
With such a large scale, grim fallout, the violence was a shock to many. So far, it has left at least 310 dead and more than 500 others injured. Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene said most of the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers.
The coordinated attacks hit churches and high-end hotels favored by foreign tourists in broad daylight.
Called the "pearl of the Indian Ocean," Sri Lanka has created an image of a tranquil nation since its civil war ended a decade ago. The Sunday bombings, however, shattered that. Bloody wreckage at the scene show the "pearl" marred by terror.
A fight against terror knows no national boundaries. No one is safe from the threat. A united global community can eliminate the threat of terrorism. Countries of various political and social persuasions must enhance trust, promote security cooperation and improve counter-terrorism coordination.
It is worth noting that behind the epidemic of terror were political, social and cultural causes. To root out terrorist attacks, international cooperation must run deep. History argues that hegemonism nourishes terrorism. Only with multilateralism and collaboration can extremism be eradicated.
The fight against terrorism will be a long one. It requires a treatment of the symptoms as well as the root causes. For individuals abhorring violence, it is time to join hands and face up to it.
