|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 21 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Four Lankans killed, 25 injured in Riyadh crash From Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh Four Sri Lankan women were killed and 25 injured in a road accident when their bus collided with an oil tanker in Aflaj, 350 kms away from the Saudi capital on Sunday. The bus was ferrying 37 Sri Lankan and four Bangladeshi women working as hospital cleaners in Najran for Al Majal Al Arabi Establishment in Riyadh. A spokesman for the consular division of the Sri Lankan embassy confirmed that the four killed were Sri Lankans. The dead included, Dilakshi Priyadarshini, Anula Nilakanthi, Anushika Dilrukshi and Preethika. According to the spokesman, five admitted to the Al-Aflaj Government Hospital were in a critical condition. The women were going to the King Khalid International Airport in Rihadh to go to their homeland on completion of their three-year contract with the Saudi establishment. Sources said the coach was driven by a Bangladeshi driver who had fallen asleep on the wheel. "The chauffeur had to drive alone from Najran to Riyadh without a substitute," sources said. On hearing the information, the Sri Lankan embassy had dispatched a two member team to assist the injured and make arrangements to dispatch the bodies to Sri Lanka. The Charge d' Affaires of the Bangladesh Embassy Ali Akbar told Daily News that the mission will rush action to look after the welfare of the four female workers affected in the incident. **** Four Lankans dead in Saudi accident - Foreign Ministry A Foreign Ministry press release stated that the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there had been an accident when a company bus carrying 41 employees (all Sri Lankans except 04 Bangladeshis) was travelling from Najran to Riyadh on the highway on 17.10.2004 around 5 p.m. The accident was reportedly due to a driving error. The following Sri Lankan nationals, who worked as cleaners had reportedly died and 20 others were injured in the accident: 1. M.S. Dilakshi Priyadarashani, 2. Ms. Anula Neelakanthi, 3. Ms. Anushika Dilrukshi, 4. Ms. Preethika. The injured have been admitted to Aflaj General Hospital, located about 360 Kms from Riyadh. Two consular officials of the Sri Lanka Embassy, Riyadh have left for the Aflaj General Hospital to provide any assistance needed by the victims. Since all legal and other official formalities will have to be handled through the Government Authorities in Aflaj, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh will liaise with the relevant authorities and take necessary follow-up actions. The Next-of-Kin of the deceased and the injured should contact the Consular Affairs Division at 97A, Galle Road, Colombo, 3, Telephone No. 011-4718972, for further details. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
