Saudi court reduces Sri Lankan woman's stoning sentence

Protesters at UN building

A 45-year-old married mother of two, who has not been named, was convicted of adultery in August.

A Saudi Arabian court has commuted the death-by-stoning sentence passed on a Sri Lankan maid convicted of adultery, the government in Colombo said on Wednesday.
"We have succeeded in getting the death sentence overturned. Our concern was to make sure that the original sentence was not carried out," Harsha de Silva, the deputy foreign minister, told reporters in Sri Lanka's capital.
"The government of Sri Lanka wishes to acknowledge and appreciate the good offices of the Saudi authorities," De Silva said.
"The sympathy, understanding and the concern expressed, and assistance extended, by many other parties is also noted and deeply appreciated."
De Silva said the woman would now serve a "short jail sentence" but details on the exact time that she would have to remain behind bars were not yet clear.
The 45-year-old married mother of two, who has not been named, was convicted of adultery in August after her arrest in April last year.
She was sentenced to death by stoning, while an unmarried Sri Lankan man convicted alongside her was sentenced to 100 lashes.
De Silva said the Sri Lankan government had not appealed on behalf of the man. It ws not clear if his punishment had been carried out.