Peiris, who arrived late Sunday night, met with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz and President of the Shoura Council Abdullah Al-Asheikh yesterday.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahamed A. Jawad was also present during the talks. On arrival Peiris was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Protocol Alauddin Al-Askary, senior Saudi government officials and Jawad.
During the meeting with Prince Abdulaziz, the visiting minister reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways of enhancing them. They also discussed matters of mutual concerns.
During his discussions with the Shoura Council, Al-Asheikh said that he plans an official visit to the country this year. He also told the visiting minister of the need to strengthen parliamentary relations between the two countries. The Shoura chairman extended an invitation to a parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka to visit the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka have good relations. The Saudi Fund For Development (SFD) has offered financial aid to the country to construct hospitals, roads and bridges.
One major concern is the issue of young domestic worker Rizana Nafeek, who is currently facing the death penalty in the Kingdom after being convicted of killing an infant.
A three-member bench at Dawadmi High Court, 380 km from the capital, sentenced Nafeek to death in June 2007 for killing the baby she was entrusted to look after while the Saudi parents were away.
She maintains that the newborn choked during bottle feeding and that she tried to seek help. The judgment was upheld on appeal by the Supreme Court in Riyadh on Sept. 25 last year.
