By The Pulseline News Desk
A Sri Lankan national who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia is expected to return home within the next two weeks after Saudi prosecutors decided to discontinue the case against him, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath announced.
The Saudi Public Prosecution decided on November 9 not to pursue further legal proceedings against Anojan Sivarasa, bringing an end to a case that had raised serious concerns in Sri Lanka after a Saudi appeals court sentenced him to death in September.
Herath has said there were now no pending court proceedings against Sivarasa and that the necessary arrangements were underway to secure his release and repatriation.
Although Sivarasa remains in custody, the decision to release him has already been made. The remaining procedures involve formally communicating the court decision to prison authorities and completing the necessary immigration documentation.
Once the relevant documents are forwarded to the Saudi Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sivarasa is expected to be brought back to Sri Lanka within one to two weeks, the Minister has said.
From five-year prison sentence to death penalty
Sivarasa was arrested by Saudi police in early July over allegations relating to a Facebook post.
Following the initial proceedings, a Saudi court of first instance had sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals.
However, the case took a dramatic turn when the Court of Appeal had reconsidered the matter and imposed the death penalty on September 17.
The Sri Lankan Government subsequently intensified its legal and diplomatic interventions through its legal team and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh.
Faiszer Musthapha PC, Upul Kumarapperuma PC and a team of lawyers traveled to Saudi Arabia to secure a clemency for Selvarasa.
According to Minister Herath, the intervention before the Saudi Supreme Court had resulted in the death sentence being completely overturned on October 13.
On October 27, the Supreme Court had directed that the matter be referred back to the court of first instance to be considered as a fresh case. The Sri Lankan Government continued its legal engagement during this process.
The decisive development came on November 9, when the Saudi Public Prosecution had decided not to proceed with the case any further.
Minister Herath had described the outcome as a significant achievement, noting that Sivarasa had been secured complete legal relief within approximately four to four-and-a-half months of his arrest, despite having faced the death penalty.
Government acknowledges Saudi cooperation
The Minister has expressed the Sri Lankan Government’s appreciation to the Saudi Government and its Ministry of Justice for deciding, on humanitarian grounds, not to pursue the case further.
He has also acknowledged the contribution of the President, lawyers who intervened voluntarily, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Riyadh and officials of the embassy, as well as officers of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Affairs Division.
He has said officials had worked continuously to secure Sivarasa’s release and facilitate his return.
The Minister has also highlighted the support extended by people from different ethnic communities in Sri Lanka, saying the incident had demonstrated how Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities could come together in a common cause.
He has said the matter had not been allowed to escalate into an ethnic issue and had instead conveyed a positive message about national unity.
A warning to Sri Lankans working overseas
While welcoming the outcome, Minister Herath has said the incident should serve as an important lesson for Sri Lankans travelling overseas for employment.
He has urged migrant workers and other Sri Lankans travelling to the Middle East and elsewhere to familiarise themselves with and strictly comply with the laws and regulations of their host countries.
He has stressed that Sri Lankans working abroad must exercise responsibility in their conduct and avoid actions that could expose them to serious legal consequences.
For Sivarasa and his family, the Saudi prosecution’s decision marks the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty. His return now depends on the completion of the remaining prison release and immigration formalities.
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