|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 29 May 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
PM's appeal to the King of SaudiArabia : Hope for convicted by Ananda Kannangara The parents of three Sri Lankan workers who are facing imminent death penalties in Saudi Arabia yesterday highly appreciated the appeal made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse recently to the King of Saudi Arabia to grant the victims an official pardon or a lesser punishment on humanitarian grounds. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Menike Silva, the mother of victim Ranjith Silva thanked Prime Minister Rajapakse for making such an appeal from the Saudi Arabian Government and said that it would be the last chance the Lankan Government could take on behalf of their children. According to the death sentence given by the Saudi Arabian Lower Court on October 28 last year, the three accused, Ranjith Silva of Nugegoda, Victor Corea of Rajanganaya and Sanath Pushpakumara of Madampe will be beheaded for committing three robberies while being employed in the capital city. The three victims, who are now in the Al Nayad prison in Riyadh, were also charged for planning another major robbery of a municipal vehicle. Another Sri Lankan Shamil Sangeeth of Matugama, was also found guilty for committing a minor offence and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Meanwhile SLBFE, Chairman Prof. Bandula Karunathilaka yesterday told the Sunday Observer that legal expenses for the case were borne by the Bureau following discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after considering the appeals made by relatives of the victimised workers. A Foreign Ministry statement also mentions that officials from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh had visited the accused in prison on four occasions and the courts on nine occasions to extend consular assistance. Convener, Working Committee for the Protection of Rights of Sri Lankan Migrant Workers (WCPRSLMW) Ranjan Ramanayaka said that their organisation too had tendered a request to Prince Al-Azees of Saudi Arabia through Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse during the former's visit to Sri Lanka. |
|
|||||||||
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
