Hundreds of people killed, many more hurt in Sri Lanka after explosions at several churches and five-star hotels. That is sending waves of sadness and disbelief around the world even here in the Puget Sound Area.

Even though those attacks happened thousands of miles from here, on this Easter Sunday, there’s a lot of heartache among many religious leaders I talked to. And one relief agency director who just got back from Sri Lanka four weeks ago.

Mark Estes has been to Sri Lanka 20 times in the past decade.

He’s with World Concern, a Christian relief group based in Shoreline and was just there a month ago.

The devastating attacks on churches and five-star hotels that have killed more than 200 and hurt so many more. That’s so difficult to hear says Estes.

“It’s very sad that it affects the international community as long with national country in Sri Lanka,” said Estes. “This really affirms why an organization like world concern is in Sri Lanka to bring transformation, to bring peace and reconciliation among different people groups.”

Local faith leaders and community leaders are offering their thoughts and prayers this Easter Sunday Lutheran pastor Terry Kyllo explains what a major attack means on a significant holiday.

“When we get together for big religious celebrations like Easter, Ramadan, or Passover, those are days of community and unity,” said Kyllo. “We understand that as people of faith, they want to target that unity, that sense of respect for human beings that our religion teaches us.”

“My heart is breaking for my Christian siblings right now who are supposed to be in the time of Easter celebrating Easter,” said Aneelah Afzali, a board member of Faith Action Network. She’s an executive director of American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN).

“To have something like this happen, it hurts all of us at safe communities, as members of any faith background. An attack on one really is an attack on all and of course it reminds us of what happened at Christchurch in New Zealand, or at tree of life synagogue or at other places,” said Azfali.

These attacks are painful and they’re heartbreaking but community leaders say it will bring us together to work harder for peace.

“I believe that human beings must recognize we are all in this together. And that our differences of religion, race, or country of origin, are secondary to our community unity as human beings,” said Kyllo.