Army and J'pura Uni. build Rizana's house
by Roshan J. Rajasingha, Muttur Special Cor.
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The new house
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Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake unveils a plaque to mark
the event |
Rizana's family in front of their old house |
The house built for the family of Rizana Nafiq, the underaged
housemaid who was beheaded by Saudi authorities, was handed over to her
father by Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake and Sri Jayawardenapura
University Vice Chancellor Dr. N.L.A. Karunaratne recently.
Staff members of the Sri Jayawardenapura University donated a day's
salary to sponsor the house, which, at the time of the handover, was
fully furnished.
Rizana was beheaded following an infant under her care suddenly dying
as a result of choking. She was a 17-year-old minor at the time. Rizana
was tried under Sharia Law and beheaded after nearly seven years in
death row.
Numerous organisations and individuals pleaded for her clemency, but
the child's parents refused to pardon her. President Mahinda Rajapaksa
and Prince Charles were among those who made pleas to the Saudi King
seeking her clemency.
Speaking at the event, her mother said material things cannot replace
her daughter.
Maj. Gen. Lal Perera, Col. Wikum Liyanage, Lt. Colonels Tilak
Ranasinghe, Lilan Ranchagoda and Kusala Gunasena were also present.
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