Maid 'tortured' with nails to have surgery

Maid 'tortured' with nails to have surgery Ms Ariyawathie, a mother of three, travelled to Saudi Arabia in March to become a housemaid.Last week, she flew back to Sri Lanka and was admitted to hospital in the south of the island, where she told doctors she had undergone abuse for more than a month.

"When we checked her, we found 24 metal pieces in her legs and hands. She still can't properly sit down and walk," Dr Kamal Weerathunga told BBC Sandeshaya. Doctors said Ms Ariyawathie was deeply traumatised and unable to give full details of her experience.

But she is not in a serious condition and surgeons are expected to try to remove the metal objects from her body on Friday.Sri Lankan authorities have told journalists in Colombo that an investigation has been launched.

Around 1.8 million Sri Lankans are employed abroad, 70% of whom are women.Most work as housemaids in the Middle East, while smaller numbers work in Singapore and Hong Kong.