BEREA, Ky. (LEX 18)– The shock of the deadly terror attacks in Sri Lanka were felt all the way here in Kentucky.
A Berea College student who is from Sri Lanka spoke with LEX 18’s Eleanor Buckley about how painful it was to hear the news of the attacks.
“We are one country and all Sri Lankans are devastated,” said Chamal Mediwaka.
When he heard the news of Sunday’s attacks, his heart sunk, and he said he immediately started trying to locate his family members who still live in Sri Lanka.
He learned that all of his loved ones were safe.
“I’ve been shocked for the last couple of days, I don’t even live in Sri Lanka at the moment, but I’ve had difficulties focusing on doing anything. Even going to sleep is hard. I’ve just been scrolling on my Twitter and Facebook posts to see if I can help from here,” said Mediwaka.
Watching the bombs explode on the TV and seeing people crying for their loved ones reminded Mediwaka of a painful time in Sri Lankan history, the Civil War. He told LEX 18 that he was a boy during the war and that he remembers the terror.
With each explosion, the painful memories of the war came flashing back to Mediwaka.
“It brings up all the bad memories the black moments in the Sri Lankan history, thinking about how it went on for a long time, and we do not want something like that,” he said.
Mediwaka said that Sri Lanka has a long way to go in healing, but he believes in the strength of his country.
