Minister expresses concern to envoy over execution of Lankans

Bogollagama meets Charge d’ Affaires:

COLOMBO: Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday met Sultan Al Dakhel, Charge d’ Affaires of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Colombo at the Foreign Ministry to discuss circumstances surrounding the execution of Sri Lankan Victor Corea, Ranjith Silva, Sanath Pushpakumara and Sharmila Sangeeth Kumara in Riyadh on February 19.

The Minister informed the Saudi diplomat that there is widespread concern in Sri Lanka with regard to the carrying out of these executions, a Foreign Ministry release said.

He noted that no prior information on the executions had been conveyed to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh. S. Sangeeth Kumara who had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment had also been executed, and even after the execution there had been no communication conveyed by the authorities to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh.

Bogollagama requested the Charge d’ Affaires to convey these Sri Lankan Government’s concerns to his Capital. He also appealed to the Saudi Authorities to enable the repatriation of remains of the four executed Sri Lankans.

Saudi Charge d’ Affaires Sultan Al Dakhel undertook to convey the concerns expressed by Bogollagma to the Saudi Arabian Government.