Sri Lanka monitors case of national jailed in Saudi Arabia over social media post

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said it is closely following the case of Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, who is undergoing judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh was monitoring developments and coordinating with the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Colombo.

Diplomatic discussions with Saudi authorities are also under way, the Ministry said in a statement.

It added that steps were being taken to safeguard Sivarasa’s interests and provide him with all possible assistance.

Sivarasa, from Natpittimunai in Kalmunai, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals after being found guilty of posting content on social media deemed insulting to a religion.

He had travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment around nine months ago.