President to Seek Saudi King’s Pardon for Anojan as Two PCs Offer Legal Assistance

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will make a formal appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia seeking a pardon for Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who has been sentenced to death in the Kingdom, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament today (22).

Herath said President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha and President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma had also volunteered to provide legal assistance to Anojan and had agreed to travel to Saudi Arabia at their own expense.

The two lawyers are expected to hold discussions with Anojan’s legal representatives and relevant Saudi authorities to explore further legal avenues available in the case.

“I must thank them for their contribution,” Herath told Parliament.

The Minister said a delegation comprising Government and Opposition MPs and led by Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih is also proposed to travel to Saudi Arabia to deliver the appeal seeking clemency. The Government is pursuing legal, diplomatic and consular channels in an effort to secure relief for Anojan.

According to Herath’s statement to Parliament, Anojan was initially sentenced by a three-judge Saudi court to five years’ imprisonment and fined three million Saudi riyals under cybercrime legislation over a social media post. However, following an appeal by the Saudi prosecution seeking action under Sharia law, the death sentence was imposed on 17 September.

The written judgment was received by Sri Lankan authorities on 20 September and translated the following day, according to the Minister. The Government is now examining possible further legal remedies with Sri Lankan and Saudi legal experts.

Anojan’s parents met President Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on 21 September and appealed for urgent intervention to save their son’s life. The President assured them that the Government would pursue every available legal and diplomatic avenue to seek a pardon.

Herath said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia was continuing to engage with Saudi authorities and provide consular assistance to Anojan.