Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia following an appeal filed by the Saudi prosecution, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament today.
Herath said an appeal submitted by the Sri Lankan Government on behalf of Anojan had been rejected.
According to the Minister, the Saudi prosecution had appealed for Anojan to be dealt with under Sharia law instead of the country’s cybercrime legislation. Following the appeal, the death sentence was imposed.
The Sri Lankan Government is continuing diplomatic efforts in the case, while arrangements are also being made to obtain legal opinions from experts in both Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, Herath said.
He further announced that a special delegation headed by the Deputy Speaker is expected to visit Saudi Arabia with a letter from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed to the Saudi King, requesting a pardon for Anojan.
Herath said he also expects to meet the Saudi Foreign Minister next month on the sidelines of sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. During the meeting, he intends to request that the death sentence be commuted or that the punishment be reduced.
The Foreign Minister assured Parliament that the Sri Lankan Government would cover all legal expenses incurred in Saudi Arabia in connection with Anojan’s case.
He added that any legal costs already paid by Anojan’s family would also be reimbursed by the Government.
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