Govt. expresses shock and grief over beheading

9 January 2013 11:52 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 22 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The government, yesterday in Parliament, expressed its shock and grief, over the beheading of Rizana Nafeek. Both Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem and Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera made separate statements on behalf of the ruling party.

Mr. Perera said her execution was carried out at a totally unexpected time. According to the law of that country, a pardon could be given only after the parents of the four month old infant who died in Rizana’s care consented. In this case, the father was willing to consider a pardon while the mother remained adamant regarding the death penalty.

The minister said former foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama and his deputy Hussein Bhaila, the current External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana were among those who made determined efforts to secure a pardon. He said another delegation, including Rizana’s parents had been planning to leave for Saudi Arabia for clemency pleas.

“We were planning to dispatch a delegation. It was a bit delayed because Rizana’s father has been hospitalized. We heard the sad news of her execution at that time,” he said.

Meanwhile, a special Jummah prayer has been arranged for Friday throughout the country for Rizana. Also, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau officials will leave for Kinniya today to look into the economic needs of Rizana’s family at this hour.

Minister Rauff Hakeem said that the government was constrained to accept that Rizana had been executed under the jurisdiction of Saudi Arabia. He said that the king of Saudi Arabia had made all possible efforts to grant a pardon to her in response to a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)

Comments - 22

Mohamed Thursday, 10 January 2013 07:31 AM

I remember, during a visit by Hon. Minter to Saudi Arabia last year, he firmly emphasized that the SL would stop sending the housemaids once and for all very soon but it is still going on and so called Agency owners are becoming rich day by day. But the fate of Housemaids remain the same ...
Our government must have a very serious principles ...

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good doc Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:57 PM

This is the difference between Real power and Boru Power! If Obama requested the Saudi King the same, he would have readily complied ! This is the bitter truth our Patriots should understand !

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RASH Thursday, 10 January 2013 12:00 AM

Come on guys do you really think the government will stop sending maids to Middle Eastern countries No!! Never! This is one of the main foreign income generators for the country which the government is heavily dependent on with no other income to come by even the export income is falling, These shit ministers can only bark when their master say so and it's tail between their legs when they are faced with a problem. via DM iPad app

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Jude Perera Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:10 PM

If you are a real minister here after no more housemaid to Arabia.

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mike Thursday, 10 January 2013 11:25 AM

TRUE & PITY
AS WE ARE RULED BY A BUNCH OF 'BLOOD THRUST SELFISH THUGS & DONKEYS "
AND THEIR ONLY CONCERN MAKING MONEY - MOTIVE EVEN IF ALL OTHER'S MOTHER'S CRY THEY LEAST BOTHER

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mike.shaans Thursday, 10 January 2013 11:14 AM

Sri Lanka should act now and stop immediately sending housemaid to Saudi Arabia and its the Sri Lankan Government responsibility to safe guard the citizen of the country than playing politics for their own interest

How dare the Saudi Mother blame and punish a child of 17rs old housemaid for her own negligence entrusting her to feed milk ..she is not a baby sitter ??? nether having any experience on child care?? where is the ******* law ??

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Calistus Jayatilleke Thursday, 10 January 2013 10:42 AM

Shock: because they did not care for our government or its ministers and Grief: because he has to find some other excuse to go on another jaunt to the Middle East.

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wimasuma Thursday, 10 January 2013 09:08 AM

They had planned but too late...This joker should be beheaded...

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buffaloa citizen Thursday, 10 January 2013 08:59 AM

Principles, honesty, discipline....GOSL??? dream, dream dream....dreeeeeeaaaaam; dream dream dream......dreeeeeeam.

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Jamal Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:18 AM

There is a cry for the abolition of death penalty for all. Women are not executed in any country. State killing of a minor female cannot be digested by anyone. Saudi Arabia should be isolated by world for practicing barbaric laws under the name of Allah, a non extinct factor.

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AM Thursday, 10 January 2013 06:48 AM

Any law has a forgiveness !!!!! What is so big about S!!!!!! Law
No compromise !!!!!BSSSSS

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ANTON Thursday, 10 January 2013 02:58 AM

We also expressed shock how a thirteen year old girl was sent to SA as a house maid.

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asoka Thursday, 10 January 2013 02:59 AM

please forgive dilan he is busy with the CJ issue...this dilan guy suitable only to sweep the road...

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amana Thursday, 10 January 2013 02:50 AM

Over to you Rauf hakim , you failed to protect a child from his area! he limits his evenings to bars & pubs!

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A. J. H. Rahuman Thursday, 10 January 2013 02:50 AM

This problem could have solved diplomatically. But our mission in Saudi arabia sought the assitance of HRW to slid mud on Saudi arabia, and even our local media gave publicity for fales stories like Anulawathie - Neil case. Please note, when a filipeeno HM was convicted for murder in 2006 and given rule to hang, Then president Arroyo visited the Kingdom and met the King and got pardon for that maid. See the difference of Diplomacy. OUr president had many oportunity to meet the king of saudi arabia, During many World summits, But none of these authorities would have reqested the president to reserve 5 mins to talk to the saudi king in this regard. We should know its hard to compromise Shareea Law, because according to shareea law the matuarity age starts from 7 yars. Any one after 7 years are subjected to be punished for their wrong doings.

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Mohamed Minhan Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:45 AM

SLBFE want to take a responsible for this incident, they didn't take any proper action last 7 years to local recruitment.All the corruption have inside the SLBFE, Specially in KURUNEGALA Branch, Only few officers doing bad thing in KURUNEGALA Branch they are taking money from manpower companies for forge documents It's True, Recently i face a problem but still under inquiary but i am not beleive this inquiary now it's going more than two weeks they try to make a story, this is a way happened every where. Stricly want to take action.GOD KNOWS

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Fair N Square Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:41 AM

Rest In Peace Rizana, btw there are so many Rizana's waiting in line for want of help, locally and internationally.

Where are and were the Philanthropists?

furthermore...

A Lion does NOT make its lioness hunt for prey(food) The Lion preys and enjoys seeing its lioness and cubs eat their meal and eat only the leftover. It doesn't let another lion get any closer to its lioness or even the cubs. We call ourselves SL Lions but how many Mothers, Sisters and daughters are sent by the "MEN" to fetch food for the family, rent we a spineless society? who enjoy the sweat of the women who toil to make a living.... Shame on US men who send out our females to fetch for food. They are a species who are to be cared for with love..

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Ben Hurling Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:34 AM

Both Rauf Hakeem and Dilan Perera are fully incompetent. Sri Lanka should deal with them accordingly. We have already witnessed Dilan's clown like performance against the CJ at the PSC. These two ministers should never have been assigned such delicate task.

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Cobra Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:31 AM

No use crying, now that it's all over. They clearly didn't do enough, period!

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bushel Thursday, 10 January 2013 01:23 AM

It is typical Karma unavoidable. May her rebirth be peaceaful and blessed with all the gods of whom every one believe according to there religeon

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