Federal Employee Dies From Sri Lanka Attack Injuries

A second person from the D.C. area has died as the result of the Sri Lanka attacks on Easter Sunday.

Chelsea Decaminada worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce and died Saturday, Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

She was a talented International Program Specialist in Sri Lanka on assignment, Ross said.

"Chelsea devoted her life to public service, and her dedication and spirit were a model for all of us at Commerce. She served her country with distinction. As we mourn her loss, we must continue to fight terrorism around the world," the statement read.

Ross said his prayers are with Decaminada's family.

Decaminada graduated from Duke University in 2015, the school said on Instagram. The post said she volunteered with the Peace Corps in Tanzania, spoke French and Swahili fluently and a was member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

 

 

 

 

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Alumna Chelsea Decaminada ’15 passed away last weekend as a result of injuries sustained during the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. Chelsea was serving our country as an International Program Specialist with the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) at the US Department of Commerce. Prior to joining CLDP, Chelsea volunteered with the US Peace Corps in Ruvuma, Tanzania, using her fluency in French and Swahili to serve the population there. She was active in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and participated in Duke Engage during Summer 2013. Rest in peace, Chelsea.

A post shared by Duke Alumni Association (@dukealumni) on May 8, 2019 at 3:25pm PDT

The Easter Sunday bombings killed more than 250 people and wounded hundreds at three churches and three hotels. Police have detained 73 suspects for investigations since the bombings.

The D.C. community is also mourning the loss of Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa, a fifth grade student at Sidwell Friends School, who was also killed while in Sri Lanka on leave.