UPDATE (Saudi Arabia/Sri Lanka): Sri Lankan government seeks clemency for three Sri Lankans in Saudi Arabia 

[RE: UP-167-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: A season’s appeal for intervention in the case of the three Sri Lankans facing death sentence; UP-43-2005: Questions remain in Sri Lanka’s willingness to save three of its citizens; UP-39-2005: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia; UP-38-2005: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia; UA-49-2005: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government; UP-90-2005: Amnesty International appeals Saudi king to commute death sentences of the three Sri Lankan men; UP-142-2005: Renewed plea for commuting the death sentence of Sri Lankan men to the new King of Saudi Arabia; UP-154-2005: Three Sri Lankans facing imminent execution suffer severe depression, with one having attempted suicide]
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SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death penalty; right to life; rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) calls on your intervention once again to save the lives of three migrant Sri Lankans, namely Mr. E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, who currently face the death penalty allegedly for armed robbery in Saudi Arabia.

According to the latest information we have received, the Government of Sri Lanka has once again appealed to the Saudi Arabian authorities for clemency on behalf of the three men.

Railways, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie carried a special message from President Mahinda Rajapakse to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Al Saud last week, requesting clemency.

Fowzie told the Island, following the president’s special request, that the Crown Prince had stated that the message would be conveyed to the King.

It is learnt that under Saudi’s Sharia Law, when a judgment is given, especially pertaining to robbery, rape and murder, there is no reversal of the decision. However, following the President’s special request the Crown Prince has said he will appeal to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Despite the many appeals to the Saudi Arabia government, however, these men are still facing death.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write a letter to the President of Sri Lanka and the King of Saudi Arabia in regards to this matter.

Suggested letter to the President of Sri Lanka:

Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
C/- Office of the President
Temple Trees
150, Galle Road
Colombo 3
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657
Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk

Your Excellency,

SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans facing death in Saudi Arabia continue to need your intervention

I am writing to you seeking your urgent intervention in saving the lives of three Sri Lankans, Mr. E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

I am aware that these three Sri Lankans are very well known to you and the Railways, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie carried a special message on your behalf to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Al Saud last week, requesting clemency.

While I very much welcome this news, I ask that you continue to pressure the King of Saudi Arabia for clemency for these men.

I believe that if there is strong campaigning by the Sri Lanka government, especially from you, there will be hope that the three men may live.

Yours sincerely,

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Suggested letter to His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia:

Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Royal Court, Riyadh
SAUDI ARABIA
Tel: + 966 1 401 1944 (for Ministry of Interior)
Fax: + 966 1 403 1185 (for Ministry of Interior)

Your Royal Highness,

SAUDI ARABIA: Request for clemency for three Sri Lankans in Saudi Arabia

I am writing to seek your clemency for three Sri Lankans, Mr. E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, currently facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

I am aware that the Railways, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie carried a special message from the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Al Saud last week, requesting your clemency.

I am well aware that you have the power to grant clemency and ask that you did this to ensure that the right to life of these three men can be ensured.

I await your intervention.

Yours sincerely,
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Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER