Sri Lanka attack victim and former Dubai resident 'loved by all'

Hotel worker Lakshan Rodrigo, 36, was 'humble, dedicated, honest and hard-working', his colleagues said

Lakshan Rodrigo, second from the right, with former colleagues at the Grant Hyatt hotel in Dubai
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Tributes have continued to flood in for Lakshan Rodrigo, the former Dubai resident who was killed in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka earlier this week.

The National reported on Monday that the hotel worker had been killed while on duty in a restaurant at the Shangri-La hotel when suicide bombers struck it during a breakfast buffet on Sunday morning.

More than 300 people were killed in a series of co-ordinated bombings that targeted churches and hotels on one of the holiest days of the year for Christians.

Mr Rodrigo, 36, worked at the Grand Hyatt Dubai between 2003 and 2016, before leaving to take up a position at the Shangri-La in Colombo. He was “loved by all those who had the privilege to meet him,” his former boss at the Grand Hyatt said.

The funeral was held on Tuesday, as the first victims were laid to rest.

“It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of our former colleague, Lakshan Rodrigo, who lost his life in the recent Sri Lanka attacks,” said Ruwan Rajapaksha, Grand Hyatt Dubai’s banquet manager.

“Honest, dedicated and hardworking, Lakshan was an integral part of the hotel team and loved by all those who had the privilege to meet him. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and anyone who has been affected by these terrible events.”

Grieving friends also shared their memories on social media. Khuram Shahzad, a former worker at the Grand Hyatt, wrote on Facebook: “Lakshan was an amazing person, gentle and humble. May his soul rest in peace”.

Sumit Kumar, another former colleague, wrote: “Two days later it’s still so hard to believe that you are not around. Why does God have to bring all the wonderful people to him so quickly. My heart goes out to you, your family and all the people in Sri Lanka. We all love you immensely and will terribly miss you.”

Mr Rodrigo also played rugby in a team of former pupils from his Colombo school, Isipathana College, in Dubai.

Razeena Kukkady, 58, a mother-of-two from Dubai, was also killed at the Shangri-La.