US official Chelsea Decaminada wounded in Sri Lankan Easter bombings has died, bringing death toll to 258
- The Sri Lankan foreign ministry had previously said 44 foreign nationals died in the attacks, while another 10 are still unaccounted for
Alaina Teplitz, the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, paid tribute to Chelsea Decaminada who was seriously wounded when two bombers hit the luxury Shangri-La hotel in Colombo on April 21.
“We pay tribute to Chelsea – and all those lost and injured – by partnering with Sri Lanka and nations worldwide to bring unity in the face of terrorism,” Teplitz said.
Decaminada, a graduate of Duke University, worked for the US Commerce Department and was on assignment in Sri Lanka when she was caught in the bombings, claimed by Islamic State and attributed to a local radical cell called National Thowheeth Jama’ath.
The bombers targeted three luxury hotels and three Christian churches. Nearly 500 people were wounded in the attacks, the worst single-day bombing against civilians in the Indian Ocean island.
Officials said Decaminada was airlifted to Singapore for treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries over the weekend.
“As we mourn her loss, we must continue to fight terrorism around the world,” US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross department said in a statement.
