Anojan Sivarasa
The Supreme Courtroom of Saudi Arabia has put aside the judgment imposing the demise penalty on Sri Lankan nationwide Anojan Sivarasa, following continued diplomatic and authorized efforts by the Sri Lankan authorities.
Deputy Minister of International Affairs and International Employment Arun Hemachandra confirmed the event in a put up on his official Fb web page right this moment (October 14, 2026).
He mentioned the courtroom made the choice on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), following sustained diplomatic and authorized efforts by the Authorities of Sri Lanka.
The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Arabian authorities for its cooperation within the matter.
Hemachandra additionally appreciated the dedication of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Secretary and officers of the Ministry of International Affairs, and the Chairman and officers of the Sri Lanka Bureau of International Employment.
He additional praised the Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian authorized groups for his or her efforts in securing the choice.
The event follows a number of diplomatic and authorized efforts to forestall Sivarasa’s execution.
On September 21, 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake introduced that Sri Lanka would make a proper diplomatic enchantment to the King of Saudi Arabia looking for a pardon for Sivarasa.
The announcement got here after Sivarasa’s dad and mom met the President on the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Throughout a dialogue held on the Presidential Secretariat on the identical day, President Dissanayake instructed officers to proceed diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabian authorities and velocity up all attainable measures to handle Sivarasa’s case.
On September 23, 2026, Members of Parliament from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) met Indian Excessive Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and Anthony V. Pirnot, Political and Financial Counsellor on the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka.
The conferences had been a part of efforts to hunt help from India and the US to safe Sivarasa’s launch.
In the meantime, in a press release issued on October 7, 2026, Amnesty Worldwide urged Saudi Arabian authorities to overturn Sivarasa’s conviction and launch him instantly and unconditionally.
The human rights organisation argued that the costs towards him had been based mostly solely on his train of the best to freedom of expression.
On October 8, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, O. L. Ameer Ajwad, visited Sivarasa at Dammam Central Jail and confirmed that he was in good well being.
Throughout the go to, the Ambassador held an in depth dialogue with Sivarasa to verify on his situation and take heed to his wants and considerations.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad assured him that the Sri Lankan Embassy would offer all attainable consular and authorized help beneath the steerage of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of International Affairs, International Employment and Tourism.
