A TWO minute silence was observed to mourn those killed in the Easter terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.

The Swindon Hindu Temple welcomed Asian and all communities of Swindon to light a candle at the vigil on Saturday for the 250 victims of the attack that sent shockwaves around the world.

Pradeep Bhardwaj, chair of the Swindon Hindu Temple, told those gathered: "It is incumbent on us in society to take responsibility to think about the victims, whether it happens in Barcelona, or Manchester, or Sri Lanka.

"We all feel a strong bond, we feel that affinity to other people of all faiths. Let us not forget that the much stronger bond we have got is of humanity. And let us embrace that message of love and peace."

Afterwards candles were lit and people were encouraged to say prayers or pay tribute to the victims.

Suresh Gattapur, a west Swindon parish councillor, said: "There is no place for extremism in the world. You are not going to achieve anything by hatred."

Ravi Venkatesh knew seven people killed, including a close friend and cricket player from India who was on holiday on Sri Lanka at the Sangri-La luxury Hotel in the city of Colombo.

"I wasn't able to sleep properly,"he told the Advertiser, "this is something which shouldn't happen. We are all human at the end of the day. He lived with his family and had three children. That's how life is."