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Lankan maid in Saudi will not be executed
23 Dec, 2015
The Sri Lankan maid in Saudi Arabia who was on death row will not be executed but will be imprisoned, the Government said today.
The Sri Lankan maid was to be stoned to death for committing adultery.
The Foreign Employment Ministry and the Foreign Ministry were in touch with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia to seek clemency for the maid.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that an appeal made by Sri Lanka has been considered by Saudi Arabia and the execution order has been withdrawn.
The Appeal against the verdict of the Sri Lankan domestic worker arrested on the charges of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning by the Al Dwadmi Court in Saudi Arabia was taken up yesterday.
The Government says?the appeal for clemency on the sentence was successful and the Sri Lankan national will now have to serve a reduced sentence and serve a term in prison.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Ministry of Foreign Employment and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment undertook the responsibility to safeguard the Sri Lankan national and through the Sri Lanka Mission in Saudi Arabia, extended every assistance to provide legal counsel and consular assistance in order to assist the appeal process,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Government appreciated the good offices of the Saudi Authorities and also the sympathy, the understanding and the concern expressed, and assistance extended by many other parties.?(Colombo Gazette)
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