In his annual Easter message, a solemn Mr Welby denounced the blasts at several hotels and churches in and around Colombo as “despicable destruction”. Sri Lankan Police has confirmed 207 lives have now been lost with a further 450 people injured. In the Archbishop’s address to Christians around the world, Mr Welby said: “The will to power leads to the murder of innocence in Sri Lanka.
“The utterly despicable destruction that on this holiest of days seeks to challenge the reality of the risen christ.
“To say darkness will conquer, that our choice is surrender or death, Jesus chose to defy this darkness and he is risen indeed.”
The UK’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris confirmed it is thought some Britons are among the victims.
Mr Dauris told Sky News: “We understand that some British citizens were caught in the blasts but we are unable to say how many people are, or might have been, affected.”
He also urged Britons to get in touch with members of their family to let them know they were safe.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the Easter Sunday massacre was “truly appalling” and “no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for “unity, love and respect” to combat hatred.
Pope Francis also deplored the attacks as ”such cruel violence” at his speech outside the Vatican.
Speaking to a crowd of about 70,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the head of the Catholic Church said: “I learned with sadness and pain of the news of the grave attacks, that precisely today, Easter, brought mourning and pain to churches and other places where people were gathered in Sri Lanka.”
In Colombo, St Anthony’s Shrine and the Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La and Kingsbury hotels were targeted.
Other blasts were reported at St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a majority Catholic town north of Colombo, and at Zion Church in the eastern town of Batticaloa.
Sri Lanka’s defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene has confirmed seven suspects have been arrested.
Mr Wijewardene said: “We believe that all the culprits who have been involved in this unfortunate terrorist incident will be taken into custody as soon as possible. They have been identified.”
The Sri Lankan government also says it has shutdown access to major social media and messaging services from 18:00 to 06:00 local time.
Those in Sri Lanka who need help were urged to call the High Commission in Colombo on +94 11 5390639 while people in the UK worried about friends or family should call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500.