Rambukwella Has Forgotten Rizana

(May 18, Riyadh, Sri Lanka Guardian) Minister for foreign employment, who arrived in Riyadh yesterday(May 17) , said he would not take up the issue of Rizana Nafeek, the Lankan maid who is on trial accused of murdering a four-month baby in her care, as the case is being heard by the Supreme Judicial Council.

“Sri Lanka respects the laws of the host country and it is not proper for us to take up this issue when Nafeek’s case is before the supreme court of the Kingdom,” Keheliya Rambukwella, Sri Lanka’s minister for foreign employment promotion and labor welfare, told the Media as he arrived at King Khaled International Airport.

Saudi Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi and officials from the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh, headed by Ambassador Mohamed Ageed Mohamed Marleen, received the visiting minister, who is being accompanied by Kingsley Ranawake, chairman of the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

During his two-day stay in Riyadh, the visiting minister is expected to hold talks with Interior Minister Prince Naif, Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi and Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman. He will also visit the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) where he will discuss matters of mutual interest with RCCI President Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy and Saad Al-Badaah, chairman of the Saudi National Committee for Recruitment. He will also meet GCC Assistant General Dr. Abdullah Al-Hashim.

Explaining the purpose of his visit to the Kingdom, Rambukwella said that the Kingdom is home to more than 500,000 Lankan workers and that he is here to strengthen existing relations, explore new areas of cooperation in promoting employment opportunities and work for the welfare of Sri Lankan workers.

He pointed out that problems faced by Sri Lankan workers in the Kingdom are minimal considering their number.

“The Riyadh mission records around 10 runaway housemaids a day and a good number of them are settled by holding negotiations with their respective employers,” he stressed.

The minister added that he also has plans to meet community members in the Kingdom to get a first-hand knowledge of their experience in Saudi Arabia. - Sri Lanka Guardian