ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday participated in the Condolence Reference for the Sri Lankan national Priyantha Diyawadana.
The Condolence reference was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad to express solidarity with the bereaved family of Priyantha Diyawadana, the Sri Lankan government, and the people of Sri Lanka over the tragic happening.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI laid a floral wreath on the portrait of late #PriyanthaDiawadana during
Condolence Reference held in Prime Minister Office earlier today. pic.twitter.com/xIeeN03Lul— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) December 7, 2021
Malik Adnan, who had tried to save Priyantha Diyawadanage, was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his bravery and efforts to protect Priyantha Diyawadana.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI awarded a certificate of appreciation to #MalikAdnan for the valour he showed to shield #PriyanthaDiyawadana against mob in #Sialkot. pic.twitter.com/TfbiQO6OBz
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) December 7, 2021
While addressing the Condolence Reference, Prime Minister Imran Khan emphatically said that nobody will be spared perpetrating violence under the garb of religion.
Regretting the lynching of the Sri Lankan national, he said that the Sialkot incident brought embarrassment to the entire nation and dented its image.
The prime minister said that the way horrific incident of Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS) united the whole nation against terrorism, now we have also decided that Sialkot like despicable incidents will not be allowed in the future.
The 49-year-old Sri Lankan Factory Manager Priyantha Diyawadanage was tortured to death and his body was set on fire in Sialkot on December 3, 2021 over blasphemy allegations.
Calling the Sialkot incident a “horrific vigilante attack”, Prime Minister Imran had said that it was a day of shame for Pakistan.
The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of 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 full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 3, 2021
Imran Khan had also spoken to the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa “to convey our nation’s anger and shame to people of Sri Lanka at the vigilante killing of Priyantha Diyawadana in Sialkot”.
The prime minister had also announced to confer the Tamgha-i-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery) on Malik Adnan.
On Monday, the dead body of Priyantha Diyawadana was sent off to Colombo with state honours from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.
The Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Religious Harmony Tahir Ashrafi, the Punjab Minister for Human Rights Ejaz Alam Augustine, and High Officials of the Sri Lankan High Commission were present on the occasion.
