Govt pledges highest-level intervention for Sri Lankan on death row

The government has officially confirmed that Sivaraasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national, is currently facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the condemned man's parents earlier today at the Presidential Secretariat.

Addressing the situation on his official Facebook account, President Dissanayake emphasised that state authorities are deploying every available resource to secure a royal pardon, leveraging both legal avenues and diplomatic channels. Plans are already underway to submit a formal written appeal directly to the King of Saudi Arabia on behalf of Sivaraasa Anojan.

During the meeting, the grieving parents were fully briefed on the proactive measures already set in motion by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which include previous appeals and ongoing monitoring of the case's progress.

"I met the parents of Sivaraasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, at the Presidential Secretariat this morning," President Dissanayake stated, reinforcing his commitment to the family. "I explained that the government is making every possible effort to secure a pardon for Mr Sivaraasa Anojan and is intervening through both legal and diplomatic channels. In particular, I stated that steps would be taken to make a formal written diplomatic appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia seeking a pardon for him. His parents were also briefed on the official measures already taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the submission of appeals. I further assured them that we are continuously and closely monitoring the progress of these efforts."

Parallel to these high-level governmental discussions, the crisis has deeply affected the family, prompting desperate public appeals. Sivaraasa Anojan's mother and several relatives visited the Hiru News department to plead for broader public support. Through tears, his mother issued an emotional plea for assistance to save her son's life. Meanwhile, family members revealed during an interview that they had managed to speak with Sivaraasa Anojan over the phone earlier today.

Seeking to garner cross-party support, the relatives also travelled to the Opposition Leader's Office to meet with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who addressed the media following their discussions to offer his perspective on the unfolding diplomatic efforts.