Rizana's New StoryRizana was born to a poverty stricken family in Muthur. She was forced to go in search of Riyals to Saudi Arabia as she could not see her father suffering to keep the home fires burning. For a offence she had not committed she was accused and sentenced to death under the Sharia law and was executed.
Her execution to death brought severe grief to millions as equally to me. There were many stories written about her very unfortunate fate via verses, letters, articles, media, websites etc. Within them there were several allegations
were aimed at the authorities of the Saudi government.
However as a normal practice the fate Rizana had to face to face is now diminishing. However among several stories there is one that could not be forgotten. This is one story:
"The subjects that I leant with interest in school were Social education and History. These subjects were thought in Grade 7 was by Farouk Sir. Once a question was asked to name three sources which bring foreign exchange to this country. The answers given as through Coconut, Rubber and Tea. Farouk Sir said on that day that all answers were incorrect. He emphasised that the women are responsible in bringing these sources.As the students were unaware Farouk Sir explained it to us as…
He said first is ‘housemaids’, two the ‘garment’ industry and the third as ‘tea’.
In order to write an elaborate letter I wanted to obtain statistics from the year 2010 from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. On perusal of statistics what I observed was that even after 10 years the situation had not changed”.
