The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Hussein Bhaila left for Saudi Arabia on a mission to save Rizana's life yesterday.

The team comprised Jammiyathul Ulama representative Moulavi M.B.M.Zarook, Director General of Middle East and North Africa Affairs Desk at the Foreign Ministry Ibrahim Sahib Ansar and Rizana's parents M.S. Sultan Nazik and S.A. Razeena.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister is to meet Rizana first. He will also try to get Rizana's parents to meet the parents of the deceased infant to appeal for clemency.

He will also try to fix meetings with the Riyadh Governor, Head of the Saudi Arabia's Shoora Council (the Speaker) and Chief Priests of the two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is playing a major role in Rizana's case and making great attempts to save Rizana from the death penalty.

It has agreed to meet the full payment for the lawyers which will add up to about Rs.4.5 million (Riyal 150,000). The first installment of Riyal 50,000 was paid by the AHRC on July 14.

Rizana is on death row since June 16, 2007 after a three member panel of a religious court under Sharia Law found her guilty of strangling a four month old infant, the son of Naif Otaibi who works at the Finance Ministry in Riyadh. The Otaibi family accused Rizana of strangling their son, when the child suffocated while being bottle fed by Rizana. The incident took place in 2005.

The inexperienced girl has been sent to Saudi Arabia to serve as a domestic aide by her family through a local job agency.

With this regard, Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare has commenced investigations on the foreign employment agency which allegedly sent underage Rizana Nazik to Saudi Arabia on a fraudulent travel document.

The controversial foreign employment agency was banned by the Ministry on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa no sooner this problem was brought to light.