(Sri Lankan Ambassador A.M.J. Sadiq in the Chamber of the House of Representatives in The Hague at its special commemorative session on 23rd April 2019 to express solidarity with Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks)
King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands was among the first world leaders to reach out to the people of Sri Lanka, within hours of the cold-blooded and barbaric multiple terrorist attacks, targeting Christians celebrating Easter Mass last Sunday, 21st April 2019, at three churches in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, as well as three luxury hotels in Colombo on the same day, in which over 350 people lost their lives, leaving more than 500 others seriously wounded.
Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima in their joint condolence message expressed their solidarity and sympathy with the people of Sri Lanka in the following words:
“The attacks in Sri Lanka have taken many lives. Among the victims are many people who were peacefully attending church in order to celebrate Easter together.
We are shocked by this senseless violence. Our thoughts go out to all the victims and their loved ones. They are in our prayers, as they are in the prayers of so many people around the world.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok tweeted on the same day, “Horrified by the terrible attacks on this Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. Our thoughts are with the victims, including one Dutch national at this moment. The Netherlands has passed its heartfelt condolences to the Sri Lankan people. We stand with you.”
On Tuesday, 23rd April, the first working day in The Netherlands following the long weekend, including the Easter Monday holiday, the House of Representatives (the Tweede Kamer or the Second Chamber) of the Dutch Parliament held a special commemorative event at the commencement of its regular session to express solidarity and sympathy with the people of Sri Lanka, following the Easter Sunday massacre.
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Adam M.J. Sadiq was invited to attend this special session, presided over by the President of the House (Speaker) Khadija Arib. Prior to the commencement of the session, Madam Speaker met Ambassador Sadiq to personally convey her condolences on the colossal loss of lives in the multiple terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka.
At the commencement of the special commemorative session, the President, Khadija Arib made a Statement (in Dutch) at the outset of which she welcomed the Prime Minister and the Sri Lankan Ambassador. The unofficial English translation of the Speaker’s Statement is attached – (ANNEX I).
Following the Speaker, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, delivered a Statement on behalf of the Dutch Government, in which he strongly denounced the horrendous terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. He expressed the hope that the perpetrators and organisations behind the attacks will be punished. He further stated, “Following the attacks, there have been numerous powerful responses from all over the world . These responses ultimately concentrated on the single thought that violence will never defeat peace. Extremism will never beat freedom and hate will never beat humanity.” The unofficial English translation of the Prime Minister’s Statement is attached (ANNEX II).
Thereafter, the House observed two minutes silence in memory of the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. It is noteworthy to mention that throughout the proceedings of the commemorative event, which lasted about 20 minutes, Members of the House remained standing. The President then adjourned the sitting, to enable the Members of Parliament to meet the Sri Lankan Ambassador and express their condolences.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte met Ambassador Sadiq and expressed his profound shock and sorrow at the loss of so many lives in the terrorist bombings and assured that the Dutch Government stands ready to support Sri Lanka in this difficult time.
Meanwhile, a public meeting, in memory of the victims of the terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka was held in the capital city, Amsterdam at the Central Station Square on the same evening (23rd April 2019) at 7.30 p.m. This silent vigil was led by the Mayor of the city, Madam Femska Halsema, and attended not only by the Dutch but also several people belonging to various nationalities in this cosmopolitan city, in a spontaneous outpouring of international solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. The event concluded with the switching on of a giant laser lit Sri Lanka flag on the façade of the Central Station, echoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s message in Parliament that the Dutch people stand side by side with the people of Sri Lanka in their time of adversity.
A Condolence Book was opened at the Embassy yesterday and will be kept open until tomorrow, Friday, 26th April for Heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps in The Hague, to express their condolences. 45 Ambassadors, as well as Charge d’ Affaires and diplomats of 30 missions have so far visited the Embassy to sign the Condolence Book. The Mayors of The Hague and Utrecht also came to the Embassy to register their condolences.
Another Condolence Book has also been kept open in the Consular Section of the Embassy for members of the public to pay tribute to the victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist carnage in Sri Lanka.
25th April 2019
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Annex -I
Unofficial English Translation
Commemoration of the attacks in Sri Lanka
President of the House of Representatives of the States-General , Khadija Arib
23 April 2019
Today we commemorate the attacks in Sri Lanka. I would like to welcome the Prime Minister and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Adam Sadiq. May I ask everyone in the Chamber and in the public gallery to stand, if possible.
Easter Sunday. A Christian day of celebration to mark the Resurrection and new life.
The day on which the Pope delivers his traditional blessing to the city of Rome and the whole world.
A day on which many thousands of people in Sri Lanka were attending Easter mass or enjoying breakfast at their hotel.
The first reports of a wave of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka reached the Netherlands at about six-thirty in the morning.
Three churches and three hotels had been targeted by suicide bombers.
Later in the day there were further explosions at two other locations in the capital, Colombo.
The perpetrators are probably members of the extreme Islamist organisation National Thowheed Jama’ath.
What we do know is that they chose their targets very deliberately: Christian places of worship and locations where Westerners gather.
A cowardly act of terror, which has claimed the lives of at least 321 people, including at least three Dutch citizens: two women and a twelve-year-old girl.
More than 500 people injured.
It is almost impossible to comprehend. So many people...
Entire families ripped apart.
Out of nowhere, as they were celebrating an important Christian feast day or just enjoying their holiday in beautiful Sri Lanka.
As the day went on, more images came in.
We saw the havoc wreaked at St Sebastian’s Church.
A statue of Jesus Christ spattered with blood.
The shattered windows at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Crowds of people gathered outside hospitals, waiting in hope and desperation for news of missing relatives and loved ones.
We also saw Dutch tourists who had witnessed the attacks.
They described the panic and chaos. Death in the normally lively streets. And we saw pictures of the Sri Lankan community here in the Netherlands, shocked and powerless.
People in Sri Lanka are still afraid, uncertain and angry. For many, these atrocities have brought back old, painful memories of ethnic and religious violence.
As the Bishop of Colombo said, “Our people were finally living in harmony, in peace... Having gone through a thirty-year civil war, we are trying to build our lives together.”
And now they are again plunged into mourning.
The pain is immense.
We wish the Sri Lankan community to find strength. That they will find the resilience to stand as a whole again and that the mutual solidarity is stronger than this brutal and cowardly violence.
In our head and heart we are with the many, many victims and injured people. The Sri Lankan community, but also the tourists.
Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones and friends. We cannot take away their pain. But we hope that they feel supported by the solidarity from all over the world.
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Annex II
Unofficial English translation of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s speech in Parliament on Tuesday, 23rd April 2019 at the special commemorative session, following the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.
Speech | 23-04-2019
Madam Speaker,
Sri Lanka was shocked by a series of horrendous attacks, while people all over the world were celebrating Easter, the feast of new life and the victory over death.
Hundreds of innocent people died.
Hundreds more injured with many fighting for their lives.
The images and eyewitness reports are so stark and vivid that it becomes almost difficult to comprehend.
And, the scale of the attacks, plus the detailed planning and organization of the crimes made it even more horrific.
It was a shocking scenario that was executed proficiently.
Your heart and mind will stand still as you try to let everything sink in.
So much hate against people, who are just peacefully practising their religion.
So much hate against people, who are just having a vacation with their loved-ones.
There is no justification for such a hateful act.
It is extremely saddening that amongst the victims – so far we know – there are three people of Dutch nationality: A 54-year-old woman who was in Sri Lanka with her family and a 48-year-old mother with her 12-year-old daughter.
It is heartbreaking that their lives have been taken from them.
Taken from their loved-ones and from a future, which they will never experience.
We must hope that the perpetrators and organizations behind the attacks will be punished for their actions.
Following the attacks, there have been numerous powerful responses from all parts of the world. These responses ultimately concentrated on the single thought that violence will never defeat peace. Extremism will never beat freedom and hate will never beat humanity.
The Netherlands will be side-by-side with those who stand for this.
We are ready to provide our assistance, if it is necessary.
And we mourn with those affected by these terrible attacks.
Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families.
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(Speaker of the Chamber of the House of Representatives, Madam Khadija Arib expressing her condolences to Sri Lankan Ambassador A.M.J Sadiq)
(Members of the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) observing two minutes silence in memory of the victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka)
(Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte leading the Members of Parliament in expressing condolences to Sri Lankan Ambassador A.M.J. Sadiq)
(Laser lit giant Sri Lanka flag on the façade of the Central Station in Amsterdam, in solidarity with Sri Lanka)
