The number of Sri Lankan casualties in the massive explosion in Lebanese capital Beirut, on Tuesday, has risen to fourteen, Sri Lankan Embassy in Lebanon said.

According to the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Lebanon Shani Karunarathne, the fourteen injured Sri Lankans are currently being treated in hospitals. The conditions of some of them are critical.

Several boarding places of Sri Lankans have also been damaged due to the explosion, Karunarathne said. She said the Embassy is currently in touch with the Sri Lankan community and the Lebanese government to provided necessary facilities to the troubled Sri Lankan nationals.

There are approximately 25,000 Sri Lankans employed in Lebanon and the Sri Lanka Embassy continues to maintain 24-hour hotlines, which are open for queries and the embassy can be contacted on Tel: +961 5769585 and Email: [email protected] (Piyumi Fonseka)