Shanakiyan urges urgent diplomatic intervention over reported Saudi death sentence

Glocal
By Editor_1
-CGIShutterstock

COLOMBO – The Sri Lankan government is closely following the case of Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national from Natpiddimunai, Kalmunai, whose sentence in Saudi Arabia has reportedly been enhanced to capital punishment following an appeal over alleged defamatory remarks against Islam.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh had been verbally informed by Sivarasa’s lawyer that the sentence had reportedly been enhanced to the death penalty.

However, the Embassy is awaiting the formal written judgment from the competent Saudi judicial authorities before confirming the details and legal basis of the reported decision.

Ministry officials said the lawyer had informed the Embassy that the judgment may be appealed before the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia within one month.

The government has also raised the matter with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Colombo, conveying its concern and that of Sivarasa’s family over the reported enhancement of the sentence, the official said.

Sivarasa was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years’ imprisonment and fined SAR 3 million over a comment he allegedly posted on Facebook.

The handling of his appeal has meanwhile raised questions from Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Batticaloa District MP and parliamentary group leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK).

Rasamanickam said he will raise the matter in Parliament next week and seek an explanation from the government regarding the role of the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan Embassy in handling the appeal.

According to documents cited by the MP, the Ministry’s Consular Affairs Division had informed Sivarasa’s family that an appeal could be filed within 30 days of the original judgment. At the same time, legal advice obtained by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh had reportedly assessed the prospects of successfully appealing the judgment or securing a reduction in the sentence as extremely low.

The family had initially sought a humanitarian pardon, with religious leaders also reportedly making efforts to secure clemency. However, following discussions with Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, the family proceeded with an appeal, according to Rasamanickam.

The family subsequently paid Rs 1.89 million towards legal expenses, while documents provided by the Ministry indicate that the appeal was filed on August 24, 2026.

Rasamanickam has questioned why the family was advised to pursue an appeal despite the Embassy’s assessment of the prospects of success, as well as who selected the lawyer representing Sivarasa and how the legal fees paid by the family were utilized.

He also called for the government to obtain the complete court judgment and proceedings, secure experienced independent legal representation in Saudi Arabia and pursue all available avenues of appeal and review.

The MP has also urged the overnment to simultaneously pursue diplomatic and humanitarian measures, including efforts to secure a pardon or commutation of the sentence.

Rasamanickam said the immediate priority should be to take every available legal, diplomatic, consular and humanitarian measure to protect Sivarasa’s life, while questions concerning the handling of his appeal could be addressed separately.

–ENCL

Editor_1
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