Special Sri Lankan Legal Team to Travel to Saudi Arabia Over Anojan’s Death Sentence

A special four-member legal delegation from Sri Lanka, including two President’s Counsels, is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday (5) to explore legal avenues aimed at reducing the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.

President’s Counsels Upul Kumarapperuma and Faizer Mustapha are among the four members of the delegation.

President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma said the delegation will conduct an in-depth examination of the legal provisions and possible procedures for securing a pardon for Anojan.

The delegation will also explore how a request for clemency could be submitted to the Saudi authorities, including the Saudi King, without affecting the ongoing legal proceedings in the case.

Kumarapperuma said the delegation will carry a letter issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake concerning the matter.

The Sri Lankan legal team is also expected to hold discussions with representatives of two lawyers’ associations in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday or Thursday to explore possible legal options.

Meanwhile, the Mahanayake Theras of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya have submitted a petition to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calling for necessary government intervention to secure the release of Anojan Sivarasa.

It has also been reported that an appeal seeking a reduction of Anojan’s sentence will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia through Sri Lanka’s Attorney General’s Department.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the case and continues to coordinate with Saudi authorities at the diplomatic level, according to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The latest legal and diplomatic efforts are focused on finding a possible avenue to reduce Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence and secure clemency within the framework of Saudi Arabian law.