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Despite heated debates over Budget 2022 in Parliament, lawmakers yesterday strongly condemned the brutal murder of a Sri Lankan factory manager in a mob attack at Sialkot in Pakistan

Making a special statement, House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena said the Government strongly condemned the murder of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana.

Mr Gunawardena described the killing as an inhumane act that “shocked the entire world”. He said the Government appreciated the intervention of Pakistani Premier Imran Khan to immediately investigate the murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Sri Lankan High Commission in Pakistan should do more to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans in Pakistan in the wake of the murder, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Shantha Bandara stressed. He urged all Government stakeholders to take steps to safeguard Sri Lankans working and living in Pakistan from threats posed by religious extremists.

While condemning the murder, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena said murderous extremists were not confined to one country’s borders. He noted that the Pakistan Premier had recently visited Sri Lanka and made extensive efforts to further strengthen ties between the two countries.

He also reminded that sicne 2005, Sri Lanka had a free trade agreement with Pakistan and talks were being held to expand it.

Mr. Gunawardena said incidents of this nature threatened to cause serious damage to such efforts and create friction between the two countries. As such, he urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to take up the matter with Pakistan’s Parliament Speaker, insist on the need to ensure justice for the victim’s family and assure the safety of Sri Lankans living and working in that country.

The barbaric act was also condemned by the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara. Referring to media reports which quoted the Sri Lankan High Commission in Pakistan as saying it had not been notified of the incident, the SJB stalwart said the mission needed to be more proactive in times such as this, especially in view of Pakistani Prime Minister’s commendable statement on the matter. Mr. Khan called the incident a “day of shame for Pakistan”.

“While thanking the Pakistan Premier, we urge him to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. We also urge the Sri Lankan Government to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in this country in response to this crime,” the SJB General Secretary said.

Although both the Government and the Opposition came together to condemn the gruesome murder of the Sri Lankan factory manager, another highlight of Friday’s debate was the heated exchange of words between the two sides over the alleged extrajudicial killings of arrested suspects while in police custody.

Speaking during the debate on the Expenditure of the Defence Ministry and the Public Security Ministry, SJB’s Gampaha District MP Sarath Fonseka pointed to recent incidents of arrested suspects being killed in alleged shootout with the police while being taken to recover “hidden weapons.”

“These killings are cowardly and heinous. They are also a disgrace to our country. This sort of thing does not happen in civilised countries. There are claims that this year alone seven suspects had been killed in this manner. These are cowardly acts and when we come to power, we will ensure that those who committed such deeds are brought to justice,” the MP said.

Responding to the charge, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara accused Field Marshal Fonseka of being more concerned over the rights of criminals. “He was referring to the recent incident where (alleged underworld figure) ‘Tinkering Lasantha’ was shot. I didn’t know that Tinkering Lasantha was a close friend of Sarath Fonseka,” he quipped.

The Minister said “Tinkering Lasantha” had been responsible for the recent murder of another alleged underworld figure, “Sunshine Suddha.” He was also responsible for some 11 armed robberies, he claimed. “He (Fonseka) never said a word about the need to arrest ‘Tinkering Lasantha,’ but is now shouting on his behalf after he was killed.”

He said the police were forced to shoot the suspect after he tried to attack them and this was confirmed by the judicial medical inquiry and a magisterial inquiry. “Don’t describe my police as cowardly. Everyone knows how much of a coward you are.”

National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, though, said no one believes the version given by police that suspects who were taken to uncover hidden weapons somehow managed to retrieve them and open fire at police.

“This is the same drama played out every time. Not even children do this. If they hide in one place on one day, they hide in a different place next time. Who decides whether an arrested suspect lives or dies? Is it you?” he asked the Public Security Minister.The Committee Stage debate of Budget 2022 will conclude next week, with the final vote on the Third Reading scheduled for next Friday (10).