Four Sri Lankan executed for robbery in Saudi Arabia

Colombo, Feb 19 (UNI) Four Sri Lankan nationals were executed for armed robbery in Saudi Arabia today, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Their execution came following their conviction by the General Court in Riyadh in October 2004.

''Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that four Sri Lankans -- Victor Corea, Ranjith Silva, Sanath Pushpakumara and Shamila Sangeeth Kumara -- were executed this morning in Riyadh,'' the statement said.

It, however, said no prior information on the execution of the Sri Lankan nationals was disclosed to the Sri Lanka Mission in Riyadh by the Saudi authorities.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo had been closely following this case.

Two clemency pleas, one by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and subsequently by President Mahinda Rajapakse, were also presented to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

''The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of informing next of kin of the executions,'' the statement added.

UNI