Sri Lankan legal team to visit Saudi Arabia over Anojan Sivarasa death sentence

A four-member Sri Lankan delegation, including two President’s Counsel, is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to seek the commutation of the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa.

President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and Faiszer Musthapha are among those expected to join the delegation.

The team is due to hold discussions with representatives of two bar associations in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday or Thursday as part of efforts to secure a reduction of the sentence.

An appeal seeking commutation is also expected to be submitted to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia through the Attorney General’s Department.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the case and continuing to coordinate with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, the Chief Prelates of the Ramanya Maha Nikaya and the Amarapura Maha Nikaya recently handed a memorandum to the President calling for state intervention to secure Sivarasa’s release.

The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia initially sentenced Sivarasa to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals over a statement he made on social media.

Following an appeal by Sivarasa, a further application was subsequently filed challenging the sentence. The death penalty was later imposed after the appeals were considered.

Sivarasa, a resident of Natpittimunai in Kalmunai, travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment around nine months ago.