Bhaila off on mercy mission to save Lankan girl

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: The Government is exploring the possibility of seeking a clemency on compassionate grounds in accordance with Saudi Arabian laws for the Sri Lankan teenage girl Rizana Nazik who has been sentenced to death.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has laid special emphasis on this incident. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Hussain Bhaila yesterday held discussions with President on gaining a pardon for girl, a media release issued by the Presidential Secretariat said yesterday.

The release categorically denied certain media reports that the Government has not taken steps to get the death sentence commuted. The Government has taken every possible measures on this incident based on Saudi Arabian rules and traditions.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Hussain Bhaila is to leave for Saudi Arabia on todday representing Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to negotiate with Saudi authorities on the possibility of obtaining clemency for the young Sri Lankan housemaid currently on death row for the alleged killing of an infant of her employer.

Officers of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the parents of the girl Rizana Nazik will also accompany the Deputy Minister to plead for a pardon from the family of the dead infant. If the parents of the dead infant were ready to pardon the girl the Government was prepared to pay the indemnity costs amounting to Rs. 4.5 million (600,000 Saudi rials).

Deputy Minister Bhaila said that they have obtained an appointment from high ranking Saudi officials to discuss the issue.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama briefed Deputy Minister Hussain Bhaila at the Ministry on Monday on the course of action in this regard.

Minister Bogollagama instructed the Deputy Minister to leave immediately to Saudi Arabia with the parents of Rizana and officers from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Minister Bhaila said that an opportunity will be afforded for the parents to meet their daughter.

In the event of the parents of the dead infant consenting to a pardon would be saved from death, the Deputy Minister added.

Rizana Nazik arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 4, 2005 to work as a housemaid in the household of Naif Jiziyan Khalif Al Otaibi.

A few days later she was transferred to the family household in Dawadami about 390 km from Riyadh. She was assigned there to look after the four months old infant with other works.

On May 22, 2005 around 12.30 pm while she was bottle feeding, the infant, choked to death. The parents claimed their infant was deliberately killed by the girl.

President yesterday gave instructions to Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to ban the foreign employment agency which has sent the teenager to Saudi Arabia as a housemaid.

The Government expresses its gratitude to all Sri Lankans work in foreign countries and various human rights organisations towards their support extended on this incident, the release added.