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100 lashes for Lankan in Riyadh

9 February 2013 03:34 am - 55     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A Sri Lankan domestic worker was sentenced to one year in jail and 100 lashes following a conviction for practicing black magic among his friends in Riyadh.

Sri Lankan Embassy sources said the accused was Premanath Pereralage Thungasiri, who was working as a house driver in a Saudi home.

An embassy official, who had met Thungasiri in jail, said that Thungasiri had been booked by police in the Ummul Hammam district on charges of black magic and for violating local regulations by meeting an unknown woman, which is against Saudi law.

The arrest was made in May when Thungasiri had visited another Saudi’s house to resolve a dispute involving a housemaid there. He said the maid was his relative, and during the dispute police arrested him.

Thungasiri has a wife, daughter and son at home in Padiyatalawe, 200 kilometers from Colombo.

According to a jail official, Thungasiri will complete the one-year jail term this May.

Thungasiri’s name has been listed in the amnesty list and if the clemency is given early, there are chances for him to be deported home even before his scheduled release.

The Sri Lankan Embassy is yet to receive the copy of the official court verdict on Thungasiri’s judgment through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to the verdict, Thungasiri said in a statement to the embassy that his Saudi sponsor had nothing to do with the case, and had surrendered his passport and other documents to prison authorities for his deportation.

Recently a Sri Lankan woman was arrested on suspicion of practicing witchcraft after she allegedly gazed at a child in a shopping complex while wearing a black cord around her wrist, the report said.

The organization accused the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment of not educating Sri Lankan workers traveling to Saudi Arabia on the country’s religious laws.

The diplomat also stressed millions of foreign workers who come to the Kingdom for employment are expected to abide by the host country’s regulations.(arab news)

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  Comments - 55

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  • pasel Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:28 PM

    Wow then all these politicians should get arrested for doing black magic during the election campaign
    on political rallies

    Abdullah Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:17 AM

    None Muslim should respect to Muslim country law (KSA) otherwise our government should stop them to sending to Middle east countries.

    Kodithuwakkuarachchi Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:21 AM

    I have one thing to say to all those who have posted sarcastic comments.

    Stop blaming others and do something to alleviate poverty in Sri Lanka so that no Sri Lankan needs to go out of Sri Lanka to make a living.

    janaka Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:31 AM

    Government should stop sending house maids to Saudi, Our Lazy men sit at home and send there wife's to earn for them. why the hell he has to go to saudi and do black magic why not try in SL to MR government to ouster.

    heje Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    jdjd via DM Android App

    shag Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    thungasiri was arrested for keeping a Buddha statue with him. not for practicing black magic via DM Android App

    rumi Saturday, 09 February 2013 02:06 PM

    yes, you can do all things in SRI LANKA-This means there is no law

    lovesri Saturday, 09 February 2013 02:40 PM

    Well said. God has given them oil and given us wisdom. People with wisdom send our beloved sisters and daughters to work for those illiterate.

    idroos2002 Saturday, 09 February 2013 02:43 PM

    Our Government is not even bothered about this plight though they pretend

    edward Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:14 PM

    dont worry they will last till 2017 only there oil will drined thereafter and beg from third world counties for food .

    Mr.Bean Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:14 PM

    Let Maharaja order another Rolls Royce to Bodu Bala Sena.

    Saman Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:16 PM

    They are still Camels in front of Americans.

    Saman Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:18 PM

    How come when big Alibaba is robbing the country.

    Sanjeewa Dubai Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:23 PM

    Largest foreign currency to our country earning from middle east so people please stop...we cannot without them...those countries are so blessed...and our sinhaleese leaders are eating us apart more...

    sena Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:09 AM

    a another desperate UNP supporter , lol

    leelpil Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:35 PM

    that is the god wish.

    leelpil Saturday, 09 February 2013 03:39 PM

    This is a bull shit. then you cannot cook in the apartment how many time i burned my curries while i was cooking in there.

    weera Saturday, 09 February 2013 05:18 PM

    It is not the fault of Saudi Arabians, it is the fault of our stupid people going there knowing what type of people and laws they have in that backward and uncivilized country.

    pasha Saturday, 09 February 2013 05:40 PM

    Rahman, in Islam slaves does not need mahram. Arab consider house maid as their slaves. study islam first before making comment in public

    Worried Lankan Sunday, 10 February 2013 06:00 AM

    Some of the above comments i noticed, they keep blaming the country while eating and having the joy of getting good incomes and funds from that country. First of all our stupid people must know the laws of the country and abide by it. If they go against it, they are guilty for it. Shame on these useless people talking non-sense and making stupid comments. Just like one of the comments said "they purposely step on fire knowing that it is hot and blaming the fire later on for being hot" They are blaming Saudi government and SL government. First you grow up and do something about it without spoiling what we currently have. How many likes to kick out these idiotic comments?

    Askar Sunday, 10 February 2013 06:41 AM

    Interesting stories from Saudi Arabia. Drama never going to be end.

    Prasad Senanayake Sunday, 10 February 2013 06:44 AM

    So why these sharia laws are not applicable for so called "slaves"?...Is it because Sharia law doesn't consider slaves as humans or what?....or is it because those slaves are not believers of Islam?....But, in that case even the Muslim women who go there to work as house maids, will be considered as "slaves" and will be out of the rule book?....Too many contradictions!!

    edward Sunday, 10 February 2013 09:20 AM

    mid-east countires are so blessed ? your wrong they are punished by God(Jesus) becuse they insult him and now those people are killing each others , hope you read news papers and TV news etc.. to hear and see the truth

    Rohan Nayer Monday, 11 February 2013 02:31 AM

    Who is practicing BLACK MAGIC Sri lanka or Arabs! Please read Salman Rushdie the satanic verses! You will find out the reality!!!!

    Rohan Nayer Monday, 11 February 2013 02:31 AM

    This is what's called Sharia Law, beat Please read Salman Rushdie the satanic verses! You will find out the reality!!!!

    adrian Monday, 11 February 2013 05:08 AM

    Thank god our president does not go there with his red scarf around his neck.

    PRASANNAJIT Saturday, 09 February 2013 05:30 AM

    These arabs who were living in deserts are having upper hand due to the oil power. Most of them are illeterate but still think they are the lords of the world.

    Goodmaen Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:02 AM

    Come and show your black power magic here. Let's see whether we can get rid of this regime!

    007 Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:00 AM

    Justice Sri Lankan style, Ha!

    Single Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:03 AM

    You should know about your future first before predicting others ha ha

    Nate Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    Saudis living in sri lanka can practice all the black magic on our women. Our man cant even meet a woman there. What nonsence.. via DM Android App

    Scientist Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:06 AM

    Come dude. Come to Science faculty. Let's create a new Department of Black Power! You will be the HOD. Let's conquer world within a week.

    007 Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:11 AM

    Means no justice.

    gamaya Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:12 AM

    These arabs are still illiterate people with no morals. They have been lucky the oil is there, otherwise they would be still living in tents and riding camels. It would have been a much better world them as there won't be any terrorism based on islamic militants as there will be no money to support them. Whom to blame...it's the USA!!!!!

    KD Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:24 AM

    Any info what black magic it is? This could be some religion other than Islam, which Saudi nut-jobs labeled as black magic.

    Publik Abilik Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    "allegedly gazed at a child in a shopping complex while wearing a black cord around her wrist" So, it would have been 'white magic' if the cord around the wrist was white? These Arabs are uneducated morons. via DM Android App

    A. J. H. Rahuman Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:39 AM

    Saudi Arabian Law is not 100% shareah Law. IF they follow shareah law, how they can allow Housemaids to go in to their country without the protection of her husband, or a blood relatives. in Islam its a must that a woman must be accompanaied by her husband or a blood relatives when she go out of the house. Shrea law is a devine law, where no one can aurgue on that.

    Truth Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:42 AM

    Ok the guys who lived in Saudi Arabia knows what really happens. Put a side all these sharia and other stuff, we all know that our ladies and gentleman from our own country strongly believe in these black magic and conduct events secretly inside their own apartments. When smoke goes out, the fire alarm rings and end of the day get arrested. Let us educate our society first and get rid of this misery.

    dhammika herath Saturday, 09 February 2013 04:49 AM

    well said

    Huna Saturday, 09 February 2013 05:08 AM

    This may seems like a light penalty but by the time they complete the 100 lashes this guy will be as good as dead :(

    che Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    this is absurd!are we back to the middle ages witch hunts. black magic? when will these saudis learn that some parts of the sharia law is just absurd! via DM Android App

    firebot Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    ok what sort of magic it was that an Arab performed on our "Cobra woman" few weeks ago, ha ha come on ppl, its a knoledge society, be educated !! via DM Android App

    Hathim Saturday, 09 February 2013 06:31 AM

    The law of saudi is totally against Islam and humanity, supported by the double faced Americans who ues the ignorence of Arabs.

    Gabo Singho Saturday, 09 February 2013 06:43 AM

    This is 7th century justice in the 21st century. What a sad depiction of humanity.

    Anver Saturday, 09 February 2013 06:58 AM

    Still we keep sendinh them to KSA. Stop exporting our labor!

    Teacher Saturday, 09 February 2013 07:15 AM

    For that, you have to bring better magicians than the ones in regime :)

    madmax Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    you do wrong. you are dead meat. this is why the country has the no 1 spot for least rapes and theft. its not because of the people but the law. arabs are dirty when it comes to moral ethics and the law is harsh to punish them. poor foreigners get caught by the harsh law. via DM Android App

    shan Saturday, 09 February 2013 07:17 AM

    Typical Lankan Style. What is d motive to go to Saudi. To Earn, Why do you want to do this type of work. Earn by doing part time. As usual quick money by Jimmicks

    Rata Haraka Saturday, 09 February 2013 07:39 AM

    "When in Rome, you do as the Romans do". So when in Saudi (or anywhere else in the world), you follow the Saudi (or that particular country's) laws. However stupid or archaic it may seem. If you don't like them or can't follow them, don't live or work there.

    redfox Saturday, 09 February 2013 12:00 AM

    Stop sending our people to this primitive country that lives in a cocoon. This is the only way. It is better to starve in your own country than in a jail that has no law otber than thei own via DM Android App

    Prasad Senanayake Saturday, 09 February 2013 08:50 AM

    Ok...then it clearly proves that Saudis use this "divine law" to their advantage when they want to use it & ignore it when they don't want to use it....clear logic.

    Shiffy Saturday, 09 February 2013 08:54 AM

    actually, the laws are same for all. even if it was a south african doing the same thing, the treatment is same. no point of blaming them. its like walking into the fire and getting burnt and then blaming the fire for being hot....

    Mee haraka Saturday, 09 February 2013 08:56 AM

    So the black magic is justified and not the punishment??!! ask yourself as why do one have to practice black magic anywhere ?? does it server a good purpose ....pls find your answers..! now i see not only amrecians are prominent for double standard


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