Herath to brief Parliament on efforts to save Sri Lankan facing Saudi death sentence

By The Pulseline News Desk

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath is scheduled to make a special statement in Parliament today (22) on the case of Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, amid ongoing Government efforts to secure a pardon.

Minister Herath has said that he would address Parliament on the case, making the Government’s handling of the matter the focus of parliamentary attention.

The Minister’s statement is expected to provide Parliament with an update on the legal and diplomatic steps being taken to seek relief for Anojan, whose case has become a matter of concern for the Sri Lankan Government and his family.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has previously said that it is closely monitoring the case, which is currently undergoing judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia.

The Government’s latest intervention came after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister Herath met Anojan’s parents yesterday. During the meeting, the family was assured that the Government was pursuing every possible avenue to secure a pardon.

According to the Government, efforts are being made through both legal and diplomatic channels.

Herath’s parliamentary statement is therefore expected to clarify the Government’s interventions with the Saudi authorities, the current legal position of the case and the avenues available for seeking clemency.

The Minister’s briefing will also come as the family seeks greater clarity on the steps being taken to prevent the execution of Anojan.

While the Government can make diplomatic representations and seek clemency, the case remains subject to the judicial and legal framework of Saudi Arabia.

The parliamentary statement will provide an opportunity for the Government to place on record the latest developments and explain the measures being taken to assist the Sri Lankan national.

With Anojan’s family now directly engaged with the President and Foreign Minister, the Minister’s statement is likely to become a key account of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and legal efforts to secure a pardon.