Colombo, January 20 (newsin.asia): The Pakistan High Commission, Colombo organized a Condolence Reference in memory of Late Diyawadanage Don Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara today on 20th January, 2022.
On December 3, 2021, 49-year old Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara was lynched by his own workers for an act mistakenly deemed blasphemy and his body burnt on the road in full public view.
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It is pertinent to recall that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan had announced that the business community of Sialkot promised to collect USD 100,000 for the family of the deceased. The assistance from Sialkot business and trade community has already been delivered to the account of Ms. Nilushi Dissanayaka, widow of Mr. Priyantha Kumara. She has also received the first salary cheque in her bank account which has been promised for 10 years by Rajco Industries where late Mr. Priyantha was employed.
READ: Imran Khan lauds Sialkot business community for financial support to Priyantha Kumara’s widow
Moreover, expatriate Pakistanis living in Canada have already sent LKR 2.8 million to the family. Apart from that Pakistanis living in the USA have also collected around USD 40,000 which will be soon transferred to Mr. Priyantha’s family.
While addressing the event, H.E. High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan Major General (R) Umar Farooq Burki, HI (M), remarked that the reference was arranged to commemorate late Mr. Priyantha Kumara. He said that each and every person in Pakistan from the Prime Minister Imran Khan to a common man on the street was aggrieved and strongly condemned this inhumane act. He offered prayers for the departed soul and paid condolence to the widow and family of Late Mr. Priyantha Kumara.
READ: Sialkot factory hires another Sri Lankan for Priyantha Kumara’s position
He further stated that our Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH brought an ideological revolution through Islam and united humanity through the message of peace, justice, tolerance and brotherhood. All Pakistanis living in Pakistan or abroad have always strongly condemned such happenings anywhere in the world. He reiterated that we, as human beings, believe in peaceful coexistence of people regardless of their religious belief.
READ: Lynching will continue in Pakistan so long as Blasphemy Law exists
The determination of our Government to strictly deal with anyone found involved in cruelty by using religion, especially in the name of the Prophet of Islam PBUH stands firm from day one. On strict directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the trial of the murderers and abettors is going on a daily basis and Prime Minister is directly supervising the proceedings of this trial.
General Burki, at the end of the reference thanked the participants who could join despite their busy schedule and reaffirmed the commitment to continue working towards improving friendly relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The widow of Mr. Priyantha Kumara thanked the Government of Pakistan for delivering on the promise and ensuring fair and speedy trial. Prayers for the departed soul were offered both in Buddhist and Islamic traditions.
READ: Pakistan’s valiant Malik Adnan speaks out on the lynching of Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara
Mrs.Dissanayake said: “My special Thanks to Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and PM Imran Khan. I request Mr.Imran Khan to bring the justice to my husband and punish the culprits as soon as possible. This is not to take revenge. But this should not happen to anyone in future. I thank all the Pakistanis who supported me in this difficult situation and all staff of the high commission for arranging this event. Also, I would like to thank Sri Lankan President, PM, other ministers and Media institutes for supporting me. I raise my children not to hate people who killed their father. but to be kind to them according to the teachings of Buddhism.”
A large gathering of people from all walks of life attended the event. Apart from Ms. Nilushi Dissanayaka widow of Mr. Priyantha Kumara and his children, some of the important ones were Most Ven. Muruttetuwe Ananda TheroChief Custodian of Abayeramaya Temple, Most Ven. Aggrahera Kasappa Thero, Maha Sangha, Father Sixton Kurukulasuriya, Swami Kurkul Babu Sharma, Molana Hassan Syed, Honourable Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Regional Co-operation, Hon. Lohan Ratwatte, State Minister of Gem & Jewelry related Industries, Members of Sri Lankan Parliament, Representative from the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and members of media fraternity graced the occasion.
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