St Sebestion Church Negombo Royalty-Free Stock Image

On 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, the church was one in a series of targets of a string of bomb blasts across Sri Lanka.[2] Media reported at least 93 people killed at the church,[3] UNICEF reported that 27 children died and 10 children were injured.[4] Altogether 45 children were killed in all blasts. President Maithripala Sirisena visited the church to inquire after the situation and inspect damages.[5] The victims' funeral Mass was conducted at the church premises by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.[6]