Saudi authorities denied allegations that a Sri Lankan maid was tortured by hammering nails into her body and accused Sri Lankan labor firms of blackmail.
Saad al-Badah, head of the Foreign Workers Committee at the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, said that 49-year old Sri Lankan maid L.G. Ariyawathi lied when she alleged that the Saudi couple she worked for hammered nails in different parts of her body.
They are doing their best to voice their objections to the new treaty signed between Saudi and Sri Lanka and which regulates the recruitment of maids in the kingdom
Ariyawathi claimed that her employers used to punish her by heating nails and needles then driving them into her body. The total number of metal objects in her body was 24, she said.
“Her stories are absolutely baseless and illogical,” Badah told Al-Arabiya. “These allegations aim to stir public opinion.”
Badah accused Sri Lankan labor firms of blackmailing the Saudi government in order to revoke the new regulations and salary ceilings applied to foreign workers.
“They are doing their best to voice their objections to the new treaty signed between Saudi and Sri Lanka and which regulates the recruitment of maids in the kingdom.”
It is also possible, Badah added, that some opposition factions could be behind the allegations in order to deal a blow to the Sri Lankan economy.
Not credible
There was nothing wrong with her. She was only diagnosed with psoriasis and that is why she was sent back
Badah said that Ariyawathi’s story, which made headlines in Sri Lankan newspapers, is not feasible for several reasons.
“How come that after 15 whole days of her return to Sri Lanka she starts suffering from a fever then goes to the hospital and doctors discover she has nails and needles in her body?”
According to Badah, doctors say that if there are nails inside a body, it gets poisoned within 24 hours and that is why it is not possible for the nails to have stayed that long inside her body.
“It is also not possible that she had passed all metal detectors in the airport with all these nails in her body.”
The reason for the punishment inflicted upon Ariyawathi by the family, Badah explained, is also not logical.
“She said they did that to her because she asked for a leave. Had she said that she got raped for example, it would have sounded more credible.”
In addition to the fact that Ariyawathi signed a quittance at the labor office, Badah stated that she underwent a medical examination on August 5.
“There was nothing wrong with her. She was only diagnosed with psoriasis and that is why she was sent back.”
Badah added that Ariyawathi’s employer, who she accuses of driving the nails into her body, suffers from a heart disease and that only 25% of his heart is working.
“It is not possible that he did all that when he has such an ailing health.”
When asked about the actions to be taken, Badah said that the Saudi government will wait to see the official reaction of the Sri Lankan government.
“When this happens, we’ll bring the maid and her employer and investigate the matter. If she proves to be right, she will be compensated according to the law.”
Twenty-four nails and needles
They did not allow me even to rest. The woman at the house had heated the nails and then the man inserted them into my body
Doctors in Kamburupitiya hospital in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo said they surgically removed 13 nails and five needles from Ariyawathi’s legs and forehead upon her return last month from Saudi Arabia.
They added that they could not remove the six needles in her hands because the surgery might damage the nerves and arteries. According to the doctors, the nails were inserted into Kamburupitiya’s body with a hammer.
Two weeks after her return from Saudi Arabia, Ariyawathi appeared on News First channel and revealed the places in her body where the nails and needles were inserted. She also said her employers threatened to kill her and bury her body.
"They did not allow me even to rest. The woman at the house had heated the nails and then the man inserted them into my body," she was quoted as saying by the Lakbima newspaper.
Officials at the Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh said they requested a meeting with Saudi officials.
“Saudi authorities have to take actions against the employer,” said Nimal Ranawaka, labor attaché at the embassy.
(Translated from the Arabic by Sonia Farid)
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