Pakistan High Commission organises condolence reference in memory of Late Priyantha Kumara

The Pakistan High Commission, Colombo organised a condolence reference in memory of Late Diyawadanage Don Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara on Thursday (20).

A large gathering of people from all walks of life attended the event. Apart from Nilushi Dissanayaka, widow of Priyantha Kumara and his children, attendees including Most Ven. Muruttetuwe Ananda Thero Chief Custodian of Abayeramaya Temple, Most Ven. Aggrahera Kasappa Thero, Maha Sangha, Father Sixton Kurukulasuriya, Swami Kurkul Babu Sharma, Mowlana Hassan Syed, Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development Namal Rajapaksa, State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Gem and Jewellery related Industries Lohan Ratwatte, Members of Sri Lankan Parliament, Representative from the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and members of the media fraternity graced the occasion.

It is pertinent to recall that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan had announced that the business community of Sialkot promised to collect $ 100,000 for the family of the deceased. The assistance from Sialkot business and trade community has already been delivered to the account of Nilushi Dissanayaka, widow of Priyantha Kumara. She has also received the first salary cheque in her bank account which has been promised for 10 years by Rajco Industries where late Priyantha was employed.

Moreover, expatriate Pakistanis living in Canada have already sent Rs. 2.8 million to the family. Apart from that, Pakistanis living in the USA have also collected around $ 40,000 which will be soon transferred to Priyantha’s family.

The widow of Priyantha Kumara thanked the Government of Pakistan for delivering on the promise and ensuring a fair and speedy trial. Prayers for the departed soul were offered both in Buddhist and Islamic traditions.

While addressing the event, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan Major General (R) Umar Farooq Burki, HI (M), remarked that the reference was arranged to commemorate late Priyantha Kumara. He said that each and every person in Pakistan from the Prime Minister Imran Khan to a common man on the street was aggrieved and strongly condemned this inhumane act. He offered prayers for the departed soul and paid condolence to the widow and family of Late Priyantha Kumara.

He further stated that our Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH brought an ideological revolution through Islam and united humanity through the message of peace, justice, tolerance and brotherhood. All Pakistanis living in Pakistan or abroad have always strongly condemned such happenings anywhere in the world. He reiterated that we, as human beings, believe in peaceful coexistence of people regardless of their religious belief.

The determination of our Government to strictly deal with anyone found involved in cruelty by using religion, especially in the name of the Prophet of Islam PBUH stands firm from day one. On strict directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the trial of the murderers and abettors is going on a daily basis and the Prime Minister is directly supervising the proceedings of this trial.

General Burki, at the end of the reference thanked the participants who could join despite their busy schedule and reaffirmed the commitment to continue working towards improving friendly relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.