Government condemns lynching of Sri Lankan in Sialkot

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemns the killing of a Sri Lankan in Sialkot, Pakistan, Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sri Lankan Parliament on Saturday (Dec. 4). "The Government wishes to express its condolence over the death of Mr. 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 told Parliament. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena appreciated the intervention of the Pakistani Prime Minister to enforce the law in this regard; "We also wish to appreciate the intervention of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure that justice is served," he added. IN THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS... As many as 100 people have been arrested in Sialkot after a mob of factory workers and others killed a Sri Lankan Export Manager of a factory and burnt his body. According to foreign media reports, Pakistani Police have formed ten teams to identify and arrest the people involved in the lynching of the Sri Lankan national. Prime Minister Imran Khan has said it was “a day of shame” for the country and everyone involved would be arrested. In a tweet, Prime Minister Khan said he is overseeing the investigations adding that all those responsible will be punished with the full severity of the law. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has demanded “required action to investigate and ensure justice” while Amnesty International has emphasized an independent investigation into the incident saying the environment enabling abuse must be rectified.