RIYADH: A Jeddah court sentenced three Sri Lankans to death and eight others, including five Indians, to imprisonment after they were found guilty of armed robbery and murder of a Yemeni national.

Gayan Nanayakkara, Dinesh Perera and Bandara Tennekoon were sentenced to execution in public. Two Sri Lankan women — Noura Mohammed and Raziah Samad — received prison time and lashes.

The Indian Embassy did not disclose the names of the convicted Indian nationals.

The 11 foreigners were arrested after the murder of Omar Yeslam, a Yemeni, and were found guilty of armed robbery.

The six convicted Sri Lankans, including the two women, allegedly ran away from their employers and believed to have been earning their livelihood through criminal activities.

The two women were allegedly involved in prostitution with the Yemeni and had tipped off the gang that their client was rich and had a lot of money in his house.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein Bhaila told Arab News over the phone that officials from the Sri Lankan Consulate were present in court when the verdicts were given. The verdicts could be appealed, he added. “It is up to the convicts to appeal their sentences,” Bhaila said.