(April 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A Palestinian group yesterday pleaded with the Saudi authorities to release the Sri Lankan domestic-Rizana Nafique who faces execution for the alleged murder of a toddler in her care, an official with the External Affairs Ministry said.

He said the group, know as the Sri-Lanka Palestine Friendship Association had made available a copy of the appeal to the Sri Lankan Representative Office in Palestine on Wednesday.

Rizana Nafique was sentenced to death by the Kingdom’s highest court for the alleged murder of a toddler in her care, some two years ago.

The defence has denied the charges saying the child had choked to death during a milk feed administered by the maid.

It also held that the maid was recruited as a domestic worker and not a baby sitter, and therefore she did not possess the required skills for such a task.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has joined a host of others calling on the Saudi authorities to release the maid on humanitarian grounds, but there has been a negative response from the Riyadh.