Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador from Sri Lanka

In a tit-for-tat move, Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador from Colombo amid tensions between the two countries over beheading of a Sri Lankan maid convicted of murder in the Kingdom. Saudi Embassy sources in Colombo confirmed that Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Jammaz has left Sri Lanka, Arab News reported. In January, Sri Lanka had also recalled its ambassador to Riyadh Ahmed Jawad in the wake of the execution of Rizana Nafeek last month convicted of killing a baby in her care in 2005 when she was 17. "Based on the decision by Sri Lankan government to withdraw its ambassador from the Kingdom, the (Saudi) foreign ministry has recalled its ambassador in Sri Lanka for consultations," SPA news agency reported late yesterday quoting a ministry spokesman. Last month, Sri Lankan government has announced that women under 25 were now banned from going to Saudi Arabia to work as maids. Crimes like rape, murder, armed robbery and drug trafficking are punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.