Feb 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia is reportedly still trying to obtain the corpses of the four Sri Lankans who were executed few days ago on the charges of armed robbery committed in October 2004.

Sri Lanka government has also written to the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry over the execution of Shamila Sangeeth Kumara, whose sentence was to be just 15 years in prison, not death, according to the correspondence received by the Sri Lankan mission in Saudi Arabia. The young migrant worker was beheaded along with the three others, Victor Corea, Ranjith Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara despite the Sri Lanka government's official plea for clemency for all of them.

The bodies of the four migrant workers were crucified and exhibited to public under a court ruling to deter crime.

Sources say Saudi authorities generally do not hand over the bodies of the executed persons.

Around 350,000 of the Sri Lanka's migrant worker population are a major pillar of Sri Lanka’s economy.