President to seek Saudi King’s pardon for Sri Lankan on death row
COLOMBO – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to make a formal written appeal to Saudi Arabia’s King seeking a pardon for Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.
The President made the assurance when he met Anojan’s parents, Sivarasa Yogalakshmi and Thambiraja Sivarasa, and other family members at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (21). The meeting was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism,Vijitha Herath, and Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer.
Anojan’s family appealed to the President to intervene to secure their son’s release and reunite him with the family.
President Dissanayake said the government was pursuing all possible legal and diplomatic avenues to secure a pardon and that a written diplomatic appeal would be submitted to the Saudi King.
Minister Herath said the Foreign Ministry was closely monitoring the case through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh and continuing to engage Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels.
The government’s intervention comes as Anojan’s reported death sentence remains subject to further legal proceedings. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh was previously informed verbally by his lawyer that the sentence had reportedly been enhanced to capital punishment following an appeal. The Embassy has been awaiting the formal written judgment from the Saudi authorities. His lawyer has also indicated that the judgment may be appealed before the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia within 30 days.
Anojan had initially been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of three million Saudi riyals by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court in connection with alleged social media remarks. His appeal memorandum was submitted to the relevant appellate court on August 25.
Following the meeting, Anojan’s brother Sivarasa Kamsikan said the family was returning to their home in Natpittimunai, Kalmunai, with renewed hope following the President’s assurances.
“We are somewhat relieved to have met the President in person and presented our request. His statements are reassuring,” Kamsikan said, adding that the family would continue seeking every possible avenue for Anojan’s release.
The family also appealed to those supporting Anojan to continue raising their voices for his release.
–ENCL
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