A tribute to Thavisha Lakindu Peiris – a native son murdered in the UK

It is not usual that I  include such an entry in this blog. However it is important to understand how much our parents sacrifice to send us overseas to get an education they believe will hold us in “good stead” to guarantee our future over above that which we could achieve if we were never sent overseas.

The link here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2479857/Pizza-delivery-driver-stabbed-death-Sheffield-just-finishing-shift.html  describes in detail the life and death of a promising IT Graduate struck down senselessly, (found stabbed in his car) on his last delivery as a Pizza delivery boy before taking up a job IT in the UK!  

As a product of an overseas education, I can empathize with that theme and wish to forewarn parents of the possibilities that their offspring encounter in the so called developed world, which is not immune from senseless violence, just as in the case with our Country. Of course many of our smug citizens say it can never happen in Sri Lanka, but I know enough about life in the hinterland to know of the daily senseless, and drug and alcohol related senseless killings taking place in Sri Lanka daily, and also the many tragedies borne out of envy.

Let it be a reminder to all of us, that we can never completely manage our lives, but we must always be aware of the possibilities of danger wherever we are.

My sympathy goes to the parents and family of this boy, who must have placed so much hope and expectation on their son’s progress, that they were willing to pay a huge price by financing him for his education, and for him to finance any shortfall by working, as in this case at a Pizza outlet delivering pizzas to those who call for them.

My parents sent me overseas when they were alarmed by the youth uprising in 1971 when they feared the worst, following from the election of Mrs B, when almost everything was scarce and unavailable, and I remember bringing rice and sugar from the UK to Sri Lanka when I came! Even basics such as this were in such short supply. (It seems embarrassing to say this but it was so true)

Let us hope that the killer or killers are found and brought to justice so that there is some closure for the family, who will now only have to live with the memories of what was and the possibilities of what might have been. There is a saying that we must be prepared for the good to leave this world prematurely, so that the bad will have more time to ruminate on their wrongs, if that is any comfort.