Thavisha Lakindu Peiris: Family pay tribute to man murdered as he delivered pizza

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was ‘considerate and kind’ and ‘the most caring and loving son’

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris (far right) with his parents, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris (second left) and mother Sudarma Narangoda (PA)

The family of a pizza delivery driver who was stabbed to death as he delivered his last order before starting a dream job have described him as “the most caring and loving son a parent could have”.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, was killed on Sunday night as he was delivering a Domino’s takeaway in the Southey area of Sheffield. Last night a 17-year-old male was arrested and was in custody awaiting questioning.

Speaking from Sri Lanka, the dead man’s father, Sarath Mahinda Peiris, and his mother, Sudarma Narangoda, said: “We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.” Mr Peiris and Mrs Narangoda said: “We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son’s tragic end, and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

“Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him.

“He was a deeply religious boy who would not even harm an ant.”

They added: “We urge anyone who knows anything about our son’s tragic death to come forward to help bring whoever is responsible to justice. Please help the police stop another father or mother feel the tragic loss that we are feeling.”

Thavisha’s elder brother, Pramod Chetheka Peiris, said: “I am heartbroken. My brother Thavisha was the centre of our world.

“He gave us so many reasons to smile. He was kind and considerate and we were extremely proud of his achievements.

“We were so happy that he was doing so well in England. We never thought his life was in any danger.

“I can’t believe he was taken away from us in this cruel and inhuman manner. Please, if anyone saw or heard anything that could help us catch these murderers, we beg that you step forward to help find my brother’s killers.”

Thavisha Peiris was found slumped in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent, in Sheffield, at about 10.30pm on Sunday. He was found by fellow Domino’s workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his last order.

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011. He had just secured a job as an IT consultant in the city.

His colleagues and police said that he had been feeling unwell during his final shift and was going to go home early, but he agreed to deliver one last order.

More than 50 police staff are involved in the investigation and Mr Peiris’s family are understood to be making plans to travel to South Yorkshire.

The officer leading the murder inquiry, Detective Superintendent Lisa Ray, said she did not know why Mr Peiris was killed in an apparently random attack. She said robbery was a possibility but it appeared that no money had been taken.

Anyone able to help should call police on 101, quoting incident number 1253 of 27 October.