Govt. provides Rs. 2.5 m to Priyantha’s family

• Grant made considering his extensive contribution to economy over 11 years as a professional migrant worker
• Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana says ‘no hindrance’ in SL-Pakistan diplomatic ties due to the incident

The Government has decided to provide a grant of Rs. 2.5 million to the family of the late Priyantha Kumara

Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana

Diyawadana, the unfortunate victim of the lynch mob in Pakistan.

The financial support follows consideration of Diyawadana’s extensive contribution to the Sri Lankan economy over a period of 11 years as a professional migrant worker. 

To this effect, the proposal submitted by the Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was approved unanimously by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday. The grant will be provided to Diyawadana’s wife and children on a humanitarian basis by the Employees’ Welfare Fund of the Bureau of Foreign Employment. 

On 3 December, the 48-year-old Priyantha was beaten and burnt alive by an angry mob of over 100 in Sialkot, Punjab over blasphemy allegations at the factory where he worked as a manager. 

“Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan acted promptly to arrest those engaged. They have arrested about 130 suspects and are conducting further investigations. The Government of Pakistan has promised to ensure all the legal means should be enacted to punish the wrongdoers engaged in the brutal attack,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said in response to a query on the investigations of the unfortunate incident in Sialkot, Pakistan.

The Pakistan Prime Minister ordered an investigation into the incident and severity with suspects, whilst pledging swift justice to the victim.

“There has been no hindrance,” Dr. Pathirana said in terms of the diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan following the incident. 

Premier Khan also apologised to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to convey condolences, whilst describing it a ‘day of shame for Pakistan’.

Diyawadana’s remains were flown into Sri Lanka on Monday afternoon. The wife of the victim firmly refuted allegations that the deadly attack was due to blasphemy, stressing that her husband worked in Pakistan for over a decade and was quite aware of the culture and behaviour of the people he associated and worked with there.