MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO: The human remains of the Sri Lankan migrant worker who was killed in Pakistan on Friday will be flown home on Monday, December 6.
“ The body of Diyawadanage Don. Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara., who was killed by a mob in Sialkot, will be ferried to Colombo by SriLankan Airlines flight No 186, on Monday,” Sugeeshwara Gunaratne, spokesman of the Colombo foreign ministry told Colombo Times on Sunday, December 5.
“ We have made all arrangements with the support of the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo to bring back the body from Lahore to Colombo,” the spokesman added. Gunaratne said that the Pakistan government will continue their investigations in accordance with the directive made by its Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“ The human remains will be received by the next-of-kin at the Colombo airport. The Foreign Ministry is coordinating the matter,” the spokesman said.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad has requested an investigation report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan regarding the death of Kumara.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, is also in discussions with the Pakistan authorities and the employer of the deceased regarding payment of compensation.
Confirming the flight details about the arrival of the remains, Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner in Colombo Tanvir Ahamed told Colombo Times that his mission has extended all possible assistance related to this unforeseen death which had shocked the whole world.
Pakistan and Lanka have jointly condemned the killing of a Sri Lankan in Sialkot. Leader of the House in Lanka’s legislature, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sri Lankan Parliament on Saturday (Dec. 4). On Friday : “The Lankan government wishes to express its condolence over the death of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana, a Sri Lankan University degree holder and a Manager at a factory in Pakistan, who was the victim of an attack carried out by extremists regardless of territorial boundaries. Further, the Government strongly condemns the inhumane attack that took the world by surprise.” Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said in parliament.
“We also wish to appreciate the intervention of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure that justice is served,” he added.
Piyankara Jayaratne, Minister of State for Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification told Arab News that “ I would also like to state that as the Minister of State for Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification, I will expedite all the work that needs to be done at my ministry level and provide all possible relief to the family members who have been subjected to injustice due to his death and also I will ensure that maximum compensation be paid to the family of the deceased.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry said : ” I am deeply shocked and dismayed over the killing of. Priyantha Kumara in Pakistan at the hands of a violent and senseless mob.”
“ The perpetrators of this barbaric act must be brought to justice and face the full force of the law.
It is positive to note that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has already taken steps to supervise the investigations and has firmly directed the authorities to take stern action,” Sabry concluded.
Sources from the deceased family said that the funeral arrangements will be notified after the arrival of the remains at the village of the deceased, Ganemulla, some 40 kms from Colombo.
