WASHINGTON: Among the first to offer condolences to the victims of Sunday’s blasts in Sri Lanka, US President Donald Trump initially claimed incorrectly that “millions have died”.

He soon realised his mistake and deleted the original tweet, adding a corrected version of the casualties. “138 people have been killed in Sri Lanka, with more that 600 badly injured, in a terrorist attack on churches and hotels. The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help,” he wrote in his second tweet.

Other US politicians also used Twitter to express their condolences.

“Today’s heartbreaking attacks in Sri Lanka come as the country has worked hard to build a common future after years of war,” wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2019