A four-member Sri Lankan delegation, including two President’s Counsels, is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday (5) to hold discussions on commuting the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.
President’s Counsels Upul Kumarapperuma and Faiszer Musthapha are among the delegation. The team is expected to meet representatives of two Saudi Arabian bar associations next Wednesday or Thursday as part of efforts to seek relief for Sivarasa.
Meanwhile, the Chief Prelates of the Ramanya Maha Nikaya and the Amarapura Maha Nikaya recently submitted a memorandum to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calling for state intervention to secure Sivarasa’s release.
An appeal seeking to commute the death sentence is also due to be submitted to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia through the Attorney General’s Department.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the case and continuing to coordinate with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels.
Sivarasa, a resident of Natpittimunai in Kalmunai, travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment around nine months ago.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially sentenced him 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’s side, a further application was submitted against the sentence.
The death penalty was subsequently imposed after the appeals were considered.
