Former Sri Lankan cricket team captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, has written a letter to his ‘colleague and friend’ Prime Minister Imran Khan in the wake of the brutal lynching of a Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara Diyawadanage, in Sialkot.
In the letter, Ranatunga has conveyed great regard for the premier and hopes that he “will be able to teach the few misguided individuals within the Pakistani community to treat everyone with the same respect and dignity that all human beings deserve”.
Ranatunga complimented the prime minister for “the diligent efforts to bring justice to the barbaric, violent crime committed against Priyantha Diyawadanage”. He also mentioned, “As you have reiterated in the media over the past few days, such violent, vigilante behavior should be condemned vigorously.”
Dear Hon. Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI,
Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Diyawadanage, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family.
Best Regards,
Your friend and colleague,
Arjuna pic.twitter.com/WwcvOWaIjK
— Arjuna Ranatunga (@ArjunaRanatunga) December 13, 2021
“A whole nation should not be judged on the actions of a few, especially considering the longstanding relationship between our two nations”. He further remarked that the bond between the two countries has “always been one of strength and solidarity”.
The 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan captain appreciated PM Imran Khan for his “efforts in finding all the individuals guilty of committing this horrendous crime and bringing them to justice”.
A Sri Lankan factory manager, Priyantha Kumara Diyawadanage, was dragged out on the road and lynched by a mob accusing him of ‘blasphemy’, on December 3, 2021 in Sialkot. The victim had come to Sialkot to forge a living, leaving behind his wife, and two sons; aged fourteen and nine.
This awful act that shocked the entire nation and has also been immediately condemned from Prime Minister Imran Khan who called it a ‘horrific act’ that brought shame to the nation. The incident also drew an immediate response from Pakistan’s military who issued a statement to condemn the “cold-blooded murder”.
However, more than 120 suspects including the main accused for of their key role in the tragic incident that occurred in Sialkot.
