Sri Lanka on Edge As Blasts at Churches, Hotels Kill 207 Dozens of Foreigners Among Dead • Eight Suspects Arrested • Amir Sends Condolences
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SHAABAN 17, 1440 AH MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 28 Pages Max 27º Min 21º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17813 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwaiti designer Ajeel takes Manchester Utd thrashed by 5 part in Paris fashion show 28 Everton; Liverpool back on top Sri Lanka on edge as blasts at churches, hotels kill 207 Dozens of foreigners among dead • Eight suspects arrested • Amir sends condolences COLOMBO: A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka yesterday, killing at least 207 people, including dozens of foreigners. The attacks were the worst act of violence to hit the country in the decade since the end of a bloody civil war that killed up to 100,000 people. For many in Sri Lanka, the appar- ently coordinated attacks brought back painful memo- ries of life during the long-running conflict, when bomb blasts were a frequent occurrence. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the government said eight people had been arrested and investigators would look into whether the attackers had “overseas links”. The government also imposed a nationwide curfew and curbed social media access to restrict “wrong information” spreading in the country of 21 million people. The powerful blasts - six in quick succession and then two more hours later - injured hundreds. At least two of them involved suicide bombers, including one who lined up at a hotel break- fast buffet before unleashing carnage. HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable yesterday to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, expressing deepest condolences over the attacks. The Amir affirmed Kuwait’s strong condemnation of such heinous terror attacks, indicating that Kuwait is standing in solidarity with Sri Lanka and its people in this regard. HH the Amir conveyed sentiments of sympathy towards the families of the victims, as well as praying for the swift recovery of those injured. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (Left) Sri Lankan security personnel walk through debris following an explosion in St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo yesterday. (Center) Security personnel walk past sent similar cables. dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St Anthony’s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo yesterday. (Right) Security Continued on Page 24 personnel and police investigators look through debris outside Zion Church following an explosion in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka yesterday. — AFP News in brief Kuwait Stock Exchange (Boursa Kuwait) elects first board after privatization Amir congratulates Kuwaiti surgeon KUWAIT: The General Assembly of will be taken to strengthen the market. Boursa Kuwait elected yesterday its new Board member Kharafi told reporters KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad board of directors for a period of three that the new strategy will be based on Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday sent a letter to years, headed by Hamad Al-Humaidhi, several clear and specific fronts, most Kuwaiti surgeon Dr Waddah Al-Refaie, who was with Ahmad Al-Thunayan as Vice notably encouraging foreign companies inducted into the American Surgical Association President. The board of directors includes to list as well as searching for all ways to (ASA), making him the first Kuwaiti to receive such member Bader Al-Kharafi, Talal Al-Bahar, enhance liquidity levels. an honor. The Amir expressed most profound pride Khaled Al-Falah, Raed Boukhamseen, Kharafi added that the strategy also in Refaie’s academic and medical accomplishments, Faleh Al-Ruqba and Bader Al-Jeyaan. The includes the introduction of new prod- wishing him a continuously successful career. HH general assembly also approved the dis- ucts and services, as well as continued the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- tribution of free bonus shares to share- attempts to persuade government com- Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- holders at a rate of 5 percent from its panies in the interest of enhancing liquid- Mubarak Al-Sabah and National Assembly capital, and paid up capital of 5 fils per ity. Kharafi noted that there is a tendency Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem sent similar letters 100 shares for the fiscal year 2018. to reconsider the possibility of finding to Refaie. — KUNA Humaidhi told KUNA on the sidelines solutions in terms of fees imposed on list- of the general assembly meeting that the ed companies, pointing out the need to new board members will meet next week develop a specific mechanism to encour- Case filed against fee hike to tackle the most important features that age family companies to list. — KUNA KUWAIT: The newly-selected board of directors of Boursa Kuwait. — KUNA KUWAIT: Lawyer Abdellatif Fahd Al-Ameer pre- sented a petition against ministerial decision demanding political reform. Since then, hundreds of 127/2019 to increase fees for expats who visit hospi- King restores protesters have been jailed and those convicted of tal emergency departments, and demanded its can- terrorism offences have been stripped of their nation- cellation because it clashes with the law and sharia. ality. Bahrain has accused Iran of training and backing He said the decision is unjust and malicious, an abuse citizenship of demonstrators in order to topple the government, of authority by the health minister and contradicts charges Tehran denies. the constitution and Islamic sharia. — A Saleh 551 Bahrainis BNA news agency said King Hamad, who can reverse court decisions, requested that the competent DUBAI: Bahrain’s king yesterday ordered the citizen- authorities take into account “the nature of crimes Four killed in failed Saudi attack ship of 551 Bahrainis to be restored. “His Majesty committed”. He has instructed the interior ministry to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has issued an order, examine each case and prepare a list of those whose RIYADH: Four assailants were killed yesterday reinstating the citizenship of 551 convicts whose nationalities can be reinstated. Human rights groups when authorities thwarted an attack on a state nationality had been revoked as per court rulings,” estimate that 990 people have had their citizenship security building in Saudi Arabia’s central Riyadh state-run Bahrain News Agency reported. US ally revoked since the start of judicial proceedings in 2012 province. The four had helped carry out the attack Bahrain has been gripped by bouts of unrest since against those who took part in the protests. at the Mabaheth (domestic intelligence) station in 2011, when authorities cracked down on protests Continued on Page 24 Zulfi, a small city about 250 km northwest of the Kuwait Airways capital Riyadh, a spokesman for Saudi state securi- ty said. Three security force members were injured plane lands safely in the attack, the spokesman said, adding that Sudan leader security services were dealing with “explosive materials” and other items left behind during the after hitting snow incident. — Reuters vows to hand KUWAIT: A Kuwait Airways plane landed safely in power to people Beirut after it was hit by a mass of snow, the nation- Saudi, UAE pledge $3bn Sudan aid al carried confirmed yesterday. The Kuwait Airways KHARTOUM: Sudan’s military leader vowed yesterday Airbus A320 plane operated for Flight KU501 departing to Beirut yesterday morning was hit by a RIYADH: he was committed to handing power to the people, as a Saudi Arabia and the United Arab sudden impact of a mass of passing snow, the airline Emirates yesterday announced three billion dollars sea of protesters outside army headquarters awaited the unveiling of a rival civilian council. New army ruler said in a statement, noting that the plane landed in financial support for Sudan following the over- safely at Rafiq Hariri International Airport in Beirut. throw of longtime leader Omar Al-Bashir. The oil- General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan also pledged to respond to demonstrators’ demands within a week and confirmed The plane, which had its nose damaged due to the rich Gulf states pledged to inject $500 million into impact, underwent repairs by technical teams that cash worth over $113 million had been seized from the Sudanese central bank and $2.5 billion to help belonging to Kuwait Airways. The flight was deposed president Omar Al-Bashir’s residence. provide food, medicine and petroleum products, expected to return from Beirut to Kuwait at 7:00 Protesters yesterday waved national flags and held KHARTOUM: A Sudanese protester waves the national flag the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. It did pm, the statement said, adding all passengers were their mobile phones aloft as night fell, the torches on as he flashes the V for victory sign on a bridge during a not specify if the money is a gift or a loan. — AFP taken to hotels for rest. Continued on Page 24 protest near the army headquarters yesterday. — AFP 2 Local Monday, April 22, 2019 Amir receives visiting info ministers participating in Arab Media Forum Palestinian minister praises Amir’s role on Palestinian affairs KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Information Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with well as Arab ministers participating in the 16th Arab Media Forum. — Amiri Diwan photos Acting National Assembly Speaker Essa Al-Kandari. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh “appreciate Kuwait’s national and regional aimed at rallying support for his cause as Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah role” on the matter. “We will never forget Palestinian delegations prepare to meet received at Bayan Palace yesterday that (Palestinian political party) Fatah had officials in China, Japan and Russia on the Minister of Information and State for Youth great beginnings in this hospitable country, matter, the minister said.