Feb 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka parliament is considering to hold the debate on the no-confidence motion against Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion Dilan Perera in March.

The debate is to be held for two days, government sources say. The Speaker has planned to discuss it at the parliamentary party leaders meeting scheduled for the first week of March.

Major opposition United National Party (UNP) has filed the no-confidence motion against the Minister over his alleged failure to save the life of the Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek who was beheaded last month by Saudi authorities for the death of an infant under her care.

The no-confidence motion has been signed by 14 UNP legislators including Joseph Michael Perera, and Lakshman Kiriella.

The housemaid who had been sent abroad under a forged passport was 17 years old at the time of the alleged murder.

Following the shocking execution by Saudi authorities despite numerous calls to commute her death sentence relations between the two countries have soured. Sri Lanka recalled its ambassador in Riyadh as a mark of protest and Saudis reciprocated with recalling their envoy in Colombo.