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Although it was reported that he was killed over allegations of blasphemy, the people known to him say he was a person who always helped people and was a kind-hearted individual who respected all religions
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By Shanika Sriyananda
The world cries… bleeds and mourns while a charred body of a person, who was tortured to death and set on fire by mobsters in the land, to which he was not belonging a few days ago, is lying in a sealed coffin at Kandaliyadda Paluwa, Ganemulla.
The horrific and barbaric scenes in video recordings on mobile phones showing the torturing of Sri Lankan general manager of Rajco Industries Priyantha Kumara Diyawadena to death and setting his lifeless body on fire by furious mobsters, mainly by the factory workers, in Sialkot last Friday over allegations of ‘blasphemy’, drew condemnation world over.
According to local Pakistani media, the factory workers of Rajco Industries at Wazirabad Road, staged a protest in the factory location alleging that Priyantha had committed ‘blasphemy’.
The number of protestors grew with locals joining factory workers against him and the area police cops could not control the growing protest and seeing over hundreds of protestors entering into the factory premises Priyantha, who was working at Rajco Industries for over 10 years, helplessly ran to the rooftop.
But, according to local press reports, hundreds of mobsters shouted slogans, chased him, dragged him out on the road and tortured him with kicks, stones and iron rods, killing him on the spot. The mob then set his lifeless body on fire.
Priyantha was working at Rajco Industries, which is one of the famous sportswear manufacturers in Pakistan which has produced sportswear for the Pakistani cricket team.
According to his elder brother Shantha Kumara Diyawadana, he upgraded the factory, which had only 500 machines when he took over, to 1,500 machines and as the general manager he ran the entire operation of the factory.
Having graduated as an industrial engineering specialist from the University of Peradeniya, he used his knowledge in modern industrial technology in Rajco industries which used traditional methods in manufacturing garments.
Although it was reported that he was killed over allegations of blasphemy, the people known to him say he was a person who always helped people and was a kind-hearted individual who respected all religions.
As Nilushi Kumara, his wife says, he was a peace-loving person who respected all religions. He cared for his factory employees and also friends in Pakistan and never complained about anyone when he called home regularly.
According to the Samaa TV, the preliminary post-mortem had revealed that he died of a severe blow to his head, and most of his limb bones had been shattered before the body was set on fire. Skull and jaws were fractured and 99% of the body was charred.
Both, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last Saturday expressed deep concern and shock at his gruesome murder and requested the Pakistani Prime Minister to ensure justice.
President Rajapaksa, who was attending the Indian Ocean Conference, said in a statement that it was an ‘act of barbarism’ and was a great shock to Sri Lankans as well as to all those who value humanity.
“As an ardent friend of Pakistan, Sri Lanka commends the actions taken by the Government of Pakistan led by Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure justice, immediately after this brutal assassination. The Sri Lankan Government and the people of Sri Lanka look forward with great confidence to the future steps that will be taken by the Government of Pakistan in this regard,” it stated.
In the statement, President Rajapaksa also stated that extremist activities of any nature create grave chaos in society and therefore, such incidents further confirm that the world must act with the same objective when taking action against extremism.
Calling the incident a ‘horrific vigilante attack’, Prime Minister Imran Khan said it was a day of shame for Pakistan and he tweeted saying, “The horrific vigilante attack on a factory in Sialkot and the burning alive of a Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan. I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake, all those responsible will be punished with the full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress.”
Over a telephone call, Premier Khan conveyed to President Rajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka, his nation’s anger and shame at the vigilante killing of Priyantha Diyawadana in Sialkot. He informed him that over 100 people had been arrested and assured him they would be prosecuted with the full severity of the law.
The Army Chief condemning it as a ‘cold-blooded and shameful murder’ said, “Such extra-judicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost. The COAS directs all-out support to the civil administration to arrest perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice.”
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama expressing satisfaction over the Pakistani authorities’ response to the brutal murder said the incident would not affect friendly ties between the two countries.
He told reporters that such incidents could not be tolerated but Sri Lanka was very sure that the incident itself was not targeting Sri Lanka, its religion or its race.
“It was an incident in isolation. The relations between our two countries will not have an impact because of this incident,” he added, recalling that Pakistan-Sri Lankan ties went back to the time of independence and Pakistan had always come to Sri Lanka’s assistance.
The High Commissioner has said that discussions were also underway with the Pakistani government as to how Kumara’s family could be compensated.
“We are very confident that this incident will be handled by the Government of Pakistan in a manner that justice will be given,” he said.
In a statement, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar said: “[We] equally share in the grief of the Sri Lankan Government, nation, and the bereaved family over the murder of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara.”
He extended condolences to Kumara’s family and assured them that the government was fulfilling all its responsibilities in the matter. Providing details of the arrests and the investigation so far, Buzdar said all requirements of justice would be met in the case.
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper quoted the special assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Hasaan Khawar who said ‘every aspect of the tragic incident was being investigated and a high-level inquiry was being conducted’.
“Immediate action would be taken against all those involved in this heinous incident and the process of identifying more culprits was underway with the help of CCTV footage,” he was quoted.
According to the Pakistani press, a similar incident in Sialkot in 2010 had shaken the country when a mob had lynched two young brothers in the presence of police, declaring them dacoits.
After nine years, the Supreme Court had given the death sentence to seven people who were involved in this incident to 10-year imprisonment.
Acting High Commissioner Tanveer Ahmad, at a special press conference held in Colombo, said justice will be delivered and Prime Minister Khan was personally overseeing the entire investigation.
“Pakistan and our leadership are very sad and in grief regarding this incident. It shouldn’t have happened. Our Prime Minister has taken tough action against those who were involved in this,” he said, adding that the Pakistani government appreciates the Sri Lankan government for standing with them at this crucial juncture.
He said over 250 people had been arrested and they would be taken to a special court in Pakistan. “The perpetrators will be given the maximum punishment. We are in touch with his family and looking forward to how best we can assist his family,” Ahmad said, adding that the historical relationship between the two nations would not be affected due to this incident.
However, Nilushi, wife of Priyantha, and Kamal, brother of Priyantha have requested Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne to intervene and remove the videos and photographs of the gruesome killing of Priyantha which are circulating via social media platforms as it would mentally affect the family, especially her two sons aged 9 and 14.
They also requested the Government to do justice for her two children’s future by supporting her to get compensation.
“We do not have the courage to see those videos and pictures of my husband’s final few moments. I request everyone to stop circulating them on social media,” she said.
Becoming more emotional after the brutal murder of Priyantha, Dr. Niaz Brohi a leading ophthalmologist of Pakistan said Sri Lanka donated the highest number of corneas to Pakistan since 1972 through the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, but “we have lost sight.”
Dr. Brohi, a former head of the famous Spencer Eye Hospital in Karachi which has performed the first-ever cornea transplant from a pair of eyes donated from Sri Lanka said: “We hang our heads in shame.”
When contacted, Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society Chairman Sunil Gunawardena said since 1972 Sri Lanka had donated the largest number of corneas to Pakistan which amounted to 25,700 and despite the heart-wrenching murder of Priyantha at Sialkot, the Society would continue to donate ‘eyes’ for Pakistani people to give sight to them.
The brutal killing of Priyantha, which marked a big black spot in modern-day history, is an urgent call for all nations to get together to act against religious extremism that would grow strongly and steadily in the minds of the younger generation. It has no religion, no race and no boundaries but only a misguided interpretation of a religion.
The brutal killing of Priyantha, which marked a big black spot in modern-day history, is an urgent call for all nations to get together to act against religious extremism that would grow strongly and steadily in the minds of the younger generation. It has no religion, no race and no boundaries but only a misguided interpretation of a religion