Sri Lanka condemns terrorist attack in Indonesian capital

The Sri Lanka Government today strongly condemned the terrorist attack which took place in Jakarta this?morning.

The Government extended its condolences to the families of the victims who died in the incident.

Sri Lanka reiterated its strong commitment to work with the international community including Indonesia to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The Jakarta Globe reported that at least six people were?dead in a series of bombings and gunfire outside the Sarinah department store on Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

The first explosion was reported at 10:50 a.m. in the car park of the Starbucks at the Skyline building adjacent to Sarinah, and was followed by six more blasts over the next 10 minutes, including at the police post at the intersection of Jalan Thamrin and Jalan K.H. Wahid Hasyim, according to witnesses.

Six people are reported to have died in the explosions and shootings, including a police officer whom witnesses said was shot by a gunman. A police spokesman the perpetrators were on foot and on motorcycles, but could not say how many of them there were.

President Joko Widodo has denounced the attacks and said the country would not be defeated by acts of terror. (Colombo Gazette)