Saudi couple torture maid

A SAUDI couple tortured their Sri Lankan maid by hammering 24 nails into her hands, legs and forehead after she complained of a too heavy workload, officials said.

Nearly two million Sri Lankans sought employment overseas last year and around 1.4 million, mostly maids, were employed in the Middle East. Many have complained of physical abuse or harassment.

LT Ariyawathi, a 49-year old mother of three, returned last Friday after five months in Saudi Arabia.

Her family only realised what had happened to her when she complained of pain and they took her to see the doctor, Foreign Employment Bureau officials said.

“The landlord and the wife of the landlord hammered 24 nails into her when she complained of the heavy workload,” Kalyana Priya Ramanayake, media secretary of the Foreign Employment Bureau, said.

Ariyawathi has been taken to hospital for surgery to remove the nails, which accordingto the maid were hammered in when they were hot.

X-rays showed one- to two-inch nails in her hands and legs, with one over her eyes, officials said.