PESHAWAR: The remains of Sri Lankan national, Diyawadanage Don Priyantha Kumar, who was lynched by the ‘horrific vigilante mob’ in Sialkot on 3 December over ‘blasphemy’ allegations has been to Colombo through Sri Lankan Airlines.
Officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission Special Representative of Prime Minister Imran Khan on religious harmony Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Provincial Minister for Human Rights and senior Foreign Ministry officials were present on the occasion at Lahore Airport.
Earlier in Islamabad, the delegation of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called on the Sri Lankan High Commissioner.
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Talking to media, Sri Lankan high commissioner to Pakistan Mohan Wijewickrama said that he is satisfied with the measures taken by the government of Pakistan and the tragic incident will not affect the relations. “Pakistan and Sri Lanka have very cordial relationship. I am hopeful that the government of Pakistan will bring all the culprits in the case to justice.”
Earlier, the police have sealed the house of Priyantha Diyawadanage. The police said that the Sri Lankan citizen had been living in Pakistan for more than 10 years. Commenting on Priyantha, the locals told the media that he was a good-natured person and never in altercation with anyone in his neighborhood. The local said that added that he did not maintained contact with the local people.
The body of the slain Sri Lankan citizen has been shifted to Lahore by ambulance yesterday. The Punjab Police spokesman said that two vehicles of Elite Force also left Sialkot along with the ambulance. The remains were handed over Sri Lankan Consulate in Lahore while in Colombo, his family members will receive the coffin. In this regard, the brother of the slain Sri Lankan citizen has stated that he is likely to receive his brother’s body on Tuesday.
Meanwhile the Prime Minster has announced medal of bravery for his colleague Malik Adnan who tried to save the life of a Sri Lankan manager from mob. The video footages of the incident show that Malik Adnan was the only person defending the lynched Sri Lankan against the extremists group on 3 November in Sialkot, Punjab. The Prime Ministry said, “Malik Adnan risked his life to save the Sri Lankan manager from the mob. We will award him the bravery medal.”
The Punjab Police claimed to have arrested seven more primary accused in connection with lynching of Sri Lankan citizen over blasphemy in Sialkot on 3 December. The police identified the arrested persons as Sikandar, Rashid, Ahmed Shehzad, Zohaib, Muhammad Irshad, Subhan and Umair Ali. The seven accused have been arrested with the help of CCTV and mobile calls data, the police officials told media. So far, 132 accused have been arrested which also include 26 prime accused. The Punjab Police spokesperson said that Chief Minister Usman Bazdar and Inspector General of Punjab police are monitoring the probe into the case.