The Government of Sri Lanka is happy to announce that the appeal for clemency on the sentence was successful and the Sri Lankan national will now have to serve a reduced sentence and serve a term in prison, said  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Employment in a joint statement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Ministry of Foreign Employment and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment undertook the responsibility to safeguard the Sri Lankan national and through the Sri Lanka Mission in Saudi Arabia, extended every assistance to provide legal counsel and consular assistance in order to assist the appeal process.

The statement further stated that the Government of Sri Lanka wishes to acknowledge and appreciate the good offices of the Saudi Authorities.  The sympathy, the understanding and the concern expressed, and assistance extended by many other parties is also noted and deeply appreciated.