GL urges cautious handling of Saudi death row case, blasts govt. over BRICS affair

Convenor of Janathawadi Joint Opposition, Prof. G. L. Peiris, yesterday (05) emphasised the responsibility on the part of the government and others to act cautiously when making representations in respect of Sivarasa Anojan facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia over a controversial social media post.

Addressing the media at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Prof. Peiris emphasised that whatever representations should be made through the Foreign Ministry.

The one-time External Affairs Minister warned of dire consequences of political party leaders, members of Parliament and civil society making direct representations and trying to get in touch with various Saudi authorities over the phone.

Prof. Peiris said that those who intervened on behalf of Anojan should keep in mind that Sri Lanka should be mindful of the Saudi way of governance and sensitivities.

The former Minister questioned the circumstances Sri Lanka was left out of the recent BRICS summit held in New Delhi. He recalled how former President Wickremesinghe discussed Sri Lanka’s entry into BRICS with Russian President Putin and received an invitation for the Summit there but as a result of the change of government, in Sept. 2024, Sri Lanka ignored that invitation.

That resulted in Sri Lanka being left out from the New Delhi summit, Prof. Peris said.

Prof. Peiris pointed out the absurdity in sending the Foreign Secretary to the BRICS Summit in Russia instead of the President, PM or the Foreign Minister to represent the country.

Referring to the forthcoming conclusion of the current IMF programme, initiated during Wickremesinghe’s time, Prof. Peiris said that Sri Lanka lost a great opportunity to benefit from BRICS by failing to represent the country at a higher level at the Russian summit.

The BRICS nations established the New Development Bank (NDB), originally called the BRICS Development Bank, Prof. Peiris said.

Dismissing NPP government’s explanation regarding Iranian ships awaiting necessary supplies but deprived by US imposed restrictions, the former Minister strongly criticised the administration’s response. According to him, this government responded in a similar manner when the US sank an unarmed Iranian frigate just outside Sri Lankan territorial waters in March this year.

Prof. Peiris declared that the government’s assertion that the US restrictions weren’t only directed at Sri Lanka but all Iranian vessels in other regions as well was not acceptable (SF)