The family of an IT director from Manchester killed in the Sri Lanka terror attacks say they are in a 'state of disbelief and grief'.
Lorraine Campbell, known as 'Loz', was described by her husband Neil Evans as 'a real tour de force'.
He said he had lost his 'best friend in the world'.
Lorraine's son, Mark Campbell, meanwhile described his mum as 'a strong, independent leader' and revealed his step-father Mr Evans had been texting her when her replies stopped.
Ms Campbell, 55, was staying at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo on a business trip at the time.
She was originally from Manchester but had been living in Dubai, where she worked for the Al-Futtaim company, the BBC reported.
The authorities in Sri Lanka have now confirmed at least 359 people were killed in a series of suicide blasts at churches and hotels on Easter Sunday.
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Paying tribute to his wife, Mr Evans said in a statement: "Lorraine was a real tour de force, she epitomised the qualities she lived by, and was a conduit for bringing people together to both make things happen, and make them better.
"I've lost my best friend in the world for all the adventures we shared and planned for the future.
"I, Lorraine's family and friends are in a state of disbelief and grief for what has happened and as such, would respectfully ask that our privacy at this difficult time is respected."
In a statement, the family said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Lorraine Campbell wish to inform that she was involved in the bombing of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and sadly lost her life.
"Lorraine, known to most people as Loz, was a woman who embraced life to the full, and meant so much to so many people and there will forever be an enormous void that will never now be filled.
"Loz was a wife, mother, sister and aunt, and a close friend to so many people, having risen through the ranks of the IT world, working in multiple cities in the UK and abroad.
"Her husband Neil Evans is overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of kindness from all corners of their world."
Ms Campbell son Mark told the BBC his mother was 'inspiring'.
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He said: "She was very strong, very independent.
"But the one thing that kind of stuck out for me throughout my entire life was she was a leader.
"She would never leave anyone behind type thing."
Mr Campbell said his step-father Mr Evans had been communicating with her.
He added: "He was texting her when she was in the restaurant in the morning and then the texts stopped.
"Then the report came out, he put two and two together, same hotel."
Police in Colombo have detained 58 people in connection with the bombings, claimed by the Islamic State group, while specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command have been sent to the country to support the bereaved and Scotland Yard has asked for images or video taken during the attacks.
Eight Britons lost their lives.
Among them were retired Salford GP Dr Sally Bradley, 56, a former director of Public Health in Manchester and medical director of Pennine Acute NHS Trust, and her husband Billy Harrop, also 56, a retired Manchester fire fighter.
Both were on holiday in the country and also staying at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.
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