GOVT TO APPEAL ON BEHALF OF LANKANS ON DEATH ROW

the Sri Lankan government will appeal on behalf of two Sri Lankan nationals against whom death sentences were issued by a court in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussain Bhaila said the two Sri Lankans, a male and a female, were arrested by the police after being caught having an illicit affair. The judge informed the two accused that a death sentence had been passed on both of them. However the judge had said both their statements would be heard at the next hearing after which she would officially announce the death sentence and give a date for the sentence to be carried out.