Jan 10, Colombo: Sri Lanka today recalled its Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in a show of dissent over yesterday's execution of the Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia.

The External Affairs Ministry has recalled Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Jawad with immediate effect. However, the Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh will continue its functions without the Ambassador.

Despite extensive efforts by the Sri Lankan government to get her life spared, Rizana Nafeek, 24, was beheaded yesterday by Saudi authorities carrying out a death sentence given in 2007 for the alleged murder of the infant son of her Saudi employer in 2005.

The Sri Lankan government's requests to bring her body back to the country also were not successful as her remains were reportedly buried in Saudi Arabia in the prison cemetery.

According to Saudi authorities under the Sharia laws no corpse of a murder convict is allowed to be sent out of the country.