Saudi Arabia ends proceedings against Sri Lankan

Saudi Arabian authorities have decided to discontinue all remaining legal proceedings against Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who was previously sentenced to death over a Facebook post, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Herath said Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution decided on November 9 not to proceed with the case, bringing the remaining legal proceedings against Anojan to an end.

Anojan was sentenced to death by a Saudi appeals court in the Eastern Province on September 17 over allegations linked to a Facebook post deemed offensive by the Saudi authorities.

Following diplomatic interventions, the court overturned the death sentence on October 14. However, other penalties remained in place, prompting the Sri Lankan Government to continue efforts to secure his complete release.

The latest decision by the Saudi Public Prosecution clears the way for Anojan to return to Sri Lanka.

Herath said the Government would take the necessary steps to facilitate his return and that he was expected to arrive in Sri Lanka within the next one to two weeks.

Anojan’s family members visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday and thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Foreign Ministry and other State institutions and officials involved in securing his release.

Herath attributed the outcome to President Dissanayake’s guidance, diplomatic interventions by the Foreign Ministry and the efforts of other officials.

He also expressed appreciation to the Saudi Government, its judiciary, Saudi and Sri Lankan diplomatic officials, and the team of lawyers who travelled to Saudi Arabia to assist with the case.