DC 5th grader among Americans killed in Sri Lanka bombings

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (FOX 5 DC) - A student from a DC school has been identified as one of the victims killed in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, according to school officials.

In a letter obtained by FOX 5, Sidwell Friends School officials notified students and families that Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa, a fifth-grader at the school, lost his life during the bombings.

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The school said Kieran had been on a leave of absence from Sidwell Friends School as he was living and studying in Sri Lanka.

“Kieran was passionate about learning, he adored his friends, and he was incredibly excited about returning to Sidwell Friends this coming school year,” the letter read in part. “We are beyond sorry not to get the opportunity to welcome Kieran to the Middle School.”

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The school said counselors, as well as other teachers and faculty, were made available for students.
More than 200 people were killed when eight bomb blasts rocked churches and luxury hotels in or near Sri Lanka's capital on Easter Sunday. It was the deadliest violence the South Asian island country has seen since a bloody civil war ended a decade ago.

The coordinated bombings were carried out by seven suicide bombers from a militant group named National Thowfeek Jamaath, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

RELATED: Sri Lanka failed to heed warnings of attacks, official says

International intelligence agencies warned of the attacks several times starting April 4, Senaratne said.
On April 9, the defense ministry wrote to the police chief with intelligence that included the group's name, he said. On April 11, police wrote to the heads of security of the judiciary and diplomatic security division, Senaratne said.

It was not immediately clear what action, if any, was taken in response.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.