A four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation led by Additional Solicitor General Azard Navavi, PC, will leave for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pursue legal channels aimed at securing the release or reduction of the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.

The delegation comprises President’s Counsel Faizer Musthapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, and Attorney-at-Law Hafeel Farisz. The team is scheduled to meet representatives of two Saudi legal firms handling the case on Wednesday (07) to finalise necessary appeal documents and discuss the application before the Saudi Supreme Court.

Additional Solicitor General Azard Navavi confirmed that meetings and coordination will continue through Thursday in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its relevant departments, and officials from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has retained the two Saudi legal firms to assist with the case, and an appeal seeking relief from the capital punishment will be submitted through the Attorney General’s Department within the stipulated timeframe.

Anojan Sivarasa, a migrant worker hailing from Natpittimunai, Kalmunai, was originally sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison alongside a fine of three million Saudi Riyals over a social media statement.

Although his legal team appealed seeking a lighter sentence, Saudi prosecutors filed a counter-appeal requesting a harsher penalty, leading the appellate court to escalate the punishment to the death penalty.

The Sri Lankan Government is actively engaging in both legal and diplomatic efforts to assist Sivarasa. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is expected to send an official clemency appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia, which will be delivered by a separate parliamentary delegation travelling to the kingdom.

Furthermore, the Chief Prelates of the Ramanna and the Amarapura sects recently submitted a memorandum to the President urging state intervention to secure Sivarasa's release.