Australian police are to help in the investigation of the Sri Lankan terror attack. An Australian mother and her 10-year-old daughter are among nearly three hundred people who were killed.

Laura Lavelle reports.

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Manik Suriaaratchi and her daughter Alexendria have been named as the first Australian victims in Sri Lanka’s terror attacks.

The pair were celebrating Easter in a Negombo church when a bomb exploded.

They were killed instantly and mourned at vigils in Melbourne overnight.

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister: “Our heart goes out to you. It is just the most sickening of news.”

The father survived because he was parking a car.

The Melbourne family had returned to Columbo to be with sick relatives.

Mr Morrison says it’s too early to know if more Australians are amongst those killed.

The Prime Minister has announced that Australian Federal Police will help in the terror investigation.

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister: “But AFP and our people are now joining the investigation effort, we’ve made those offers and they’ve been responded to. So we will be assisting where ever we can to investigations.”

During the vigils overnight the Arts Centre in Melbourne and Flinders Street Station lit up with the colours of Sri Lanka.

Laura Lavelle, QUT News.