The lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Pakistan’s Sialkot was condemned by the Parliament in Colombo. According to the Colombo Gazette, the Leader of the House, Dinesh Gunawardena, said the government condemned the killing of Priyantha Diyawadana, who was employed as general manager (operations) at Rajco Industries in Sialkot.
There was prompt action from the Pakistani administration, which condemned the incident and ordered action.
Talking about the same, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "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."
Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the incident could threaten diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while another Member of Parliament, Shantha Bandara, raised concerns over the safety of Sri Lankans in Pakistan, urging the authorities to take steps to ensure the protection of all Sri Lankans in Pakistan.
According to reports, Priyantha Diyawadana (in his 40s) had pulled down a poster of the hardline Islamist party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from the factory wall. Reports say that the poster contained Quranic verses and therefore calling it “blasphemous”, a frenzied mob tortured and burnt the Sri Lankan man alive.