Anojan moved to new cell after Saudi prison altercation
COLOMBO ‒ The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, sustained scratch injuries during an altercation with a fellow inmate and was not attacked with a knife or other weapon.
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Anojan was not facing any threat to his life and had been transferred to another cell following the incident at Dammam Prison.
Herath was responding to questions raised under Standing Order 27(2) by Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) during Wednesday’s (7) parliamentary sitting.
The minister said the incident began with a verbal dispute between Anojan and another inmate sharing his cell. According to the prison doctor, Anojan sustained scratches, including injuries to his face, caused by the other inmate’s fingernails.
“No knife or any other weapon was used,” Herath said.
He said Saudi prison authorities had assured Sri Lankan diplomatic representatives that Anojan’s life was not in danger. Officials from the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission had visited Dammam Prison twice in connection with the incident, with the prison superintendent and doctor present during the latest visit.
Herath said the Sri Lankan government was taking all possible steps within the framework of Saudi Arabian law to seek relief for Anojan.
The Saudi Court of Appeal delivered its judgment on September 17, 2026, and preparations are under way to appeal the case before the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, he said.
The appeal must be filed by October 17, with the Sri Lankan legal team expected to submit it on October 7 or 8.
The legal team includes Additional Solicitor General Azard Navavi, PC, President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and Attorney-at-Law Hafeel Farisz.
Herath said the delegation would meet representatives of two Saudi law firms retained for the case and work towards finalizing the appeal.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Attorney General’s Department are coordinating legal and diplomatic assistance, while taking into account Saudi Arabia’s laws, judicial procedures and Sharia principles.
The minister cautioned that disclosing details of ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts could prejudice the proceedings and said the government would therefore refrain from releasing information that could adversely affect the case.
Herath said the government’s immediate priority was to complete the appeal before the Saudi Supreme Court. Depending on the outcome, Sri Lanka would consider further diplomatic measures, including seeking clemency or a reduction of the sentence.
He said senior Saudi officials had indicated that they did not want external political intervention while the case remained before the courts. Sri Lanka would therefore continue to engage the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels and address the matter on humanitarian grounds rather than as a political issue.
Herath also urged all parties to refrain from spreading unverified information, warning that inaccurate reports could undermine efforts being made to secure relief for Anojan.
–ENCL
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