(Reuters) In Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, a lane that used to be alive with the sound of children playing is silent.
An entire family, including three children, died in an explosion at St Anthony’s Church on Easter Sunday, one of a series of coordinated attacks by suicide bombers that killed more than 250 people.
Schools across Sri Lanka have begun to reopen but in Batticaloa, one student, nine-year-old Kevin Kuventhirarasa, will never return. He was killed while at Sunday school at the Zion Church.
“He was very active, generous and helpful,” said his teacher Vijithakumary Suthagar, in the empty classroom where she used to teach him. “I don’t know how I will explain his absence to his classmates.”
An art file belonging to Kevin Kuventhirarasa.
Christian decorations hang on the door to the house of brothers Bevon, aged nine, Clavon, aged six, and 11-month-old Avon. The three brothers and their parents were killed during the during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Anthony Church.
An empty bedroom belonging to Rangana Fernando, 41, his wife Danadiri, 37, their daughters Fabiyola, 6, Leona, 4, and 11-month-old son, Seth, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. “We will lock this house after donating everything belonging to family. There is no one to take care of it. It was such a perfect happy family but everyone is gone because of one person,” said a relative who had arrived from overseas to attend the funeral of the family.
Toy dolls are seen inside the house of Rangana Fernando and his family.
An empty kitchen is seen inside the house of Verlini Suranga, a 35-year-old housewife, who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at Zion Church. Verlini Suranga was killed with her husband and nephew while attending the Easter mass.
An empty bed belonging to Chamodh Parera, eleven, a sixth grade student who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. Chamodh was killed with his aunt, Mary Sheila who accompanied him for the mass as his father had a fever.
Photos of Rashini, thirteen, her sister Shalomi, ten, and brother Shalom, seven, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church, are seen inside their house. Pradeep Thusantha who lost his wife and children was outside the church. He rushed towards his family when he heard the explosion. “Me and my wife were deeply in love for the last 15 years. Our family was bonded together. All five of us slept in one bedroom. I remember how beautiful they all looked when they left for the church. I worked hard to keep my family happy. Now I just want to leave this country and work for God for the rest of my life.”
An empty bedroom belonging to Rasika Dilrukshi, thirty, her daughters Rashini, thirteen, and Shalomi, ten, and son Shalom, seven.
A photo of Janisha Vidushan, sixteen, a student who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. Janisha was killed with his cousin, aunt and grandmother.
An empty bed belonging to Janisha Vidushan.
An empty workshop of Dulip Kumar, 46, a carpenter who was killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. He and his two teenage children died while his wife survived with an injury to her right eye. “He was known all over the town for his skills. We used to work together. He was suppose to open the workshop the next day of Easter after a few days break. It feels strange to come here without him,” said his younger brother Jude Prasad Appuhamy.
A bike stands outside the unfinished house of Lahiru Prasanga Fernando, 34, and his wife Diliini Sangeewani, 34, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church. “They had been married for more than 15 years and were so happy together. They were childless but treated this house as their kid. They were building it slowly for the last few years. Now they’ve left me alone in this house,” said Sudarshni Fernando, mother of Lahiru.