Sept 14, Colombo: Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Keheliya Rambukwella is to leave for Saudi Arabia soon to seek ways to obtain a pardon for the Sri Lankan housemaid who is facing a death sentence in the kingdom for murder charges.

The ill-fated 19 year old teenager Rizana Nafeek left for Saudi Arabia on a forged passport while being an underage. She was sentenced to death for allegedly killing a baby she was made to look after and the appeal for mercy is to be heard in the Saudi courts.

The attempt by the Deputy Minister Hussein Bahila who visited Saudi Arabia last month to seek pardon for the woman failed.