According to reports, the maid was sentenced to be stoned to death after being found guilty of having a clandestine affair.

Speaking to 'Sri Lanka Mirror' over the matter, the minister said that they are yet to be briefed on when the punishment would take place and usually, no such thing is being done.

"Earlier, three housemaids were sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. We will do our best on this incident," she added

Although Sri Lanka has ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Saudi Arabia has not done so and therefore is able to exercise their own law on migrant workers.

However, a women's rights activist says that there is a dire need for a proper framework when sending workers to countries imposing Sharia law which is widely deemed as undemocratic.

She added that the Sri Lankan government should be more responsible with regard to the safety of migrant workers going abroad.