Clemency for Anojan: Joint delegation to carry president's plea to Saudi King

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

A joint delegation from Sri Lanka’s government, opposition, and religious groups is traveling to Saudi Arabia to appeal for clemency on behalf of Anojan Sivarasa, who has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges. The appeal, supported by legal teams and diplomatic efforts, aims to secure a pardon or reduce the sentence before the October 17 deadline, highlighting broad national and international concern over his case.

A joint delegation representing the Sri Lankan government, opposition parties, and religious groups is set to travel to Saudi Arabia to seek clemency for Anojan Sivarasa, whose prison sentence was recently converted to a death penalty over blasphemy charges. The appeal, initiated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, will be presented on humanitarian grounds with the aim of securing a pardon or at least a reduction of the sentence.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has engaged legal firms in Saudi Arabia to file an appeal before the October 17 deadline. These legal efforts are intended to explore the possibility of challenging the sentence through the Saudi Supreme Court. National People’s Power (NPP) lawyer K.A. Upul Indika Kumarapperuma, who plans to travel to Saudi Arabia early next week, said the delegation will seek to understand local judicial procedures and assess whether the King, as head of state, has the authority to grant a pardon in this case. Kumarapperuma also noted efforts to coordinate with President Dissanayake on the proper protocol for submitting a formal request for clemency.

In preparation for the visit, Kumarapperuma met with former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, leveraging his connections with the Saudi monarchy. The Foreign Ministry has contracted two Saudi legal firms to assist with the appeal, underscoring the multipronged nature of the diplomatic and legal campaign to save Sivarasa.

The Tamil nationalist party, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), has formally urged President Dissanayake to intervene urgently and has nominated Ampara District Parliamentarian Kavendran Kodeeswaran as part of the official delegation. ITAK has also been active in briefing diplomatic missions in Colombo and engaging with foreign governments, while diaspora organizations have sought international support to press for Sivarasa’s release. The party has highlighted additional diplomatic strategies that it believes Sri Lankan authorities should consider promptly.

Meanwhile, the Sivarasa family has expressed concern over a lack of recent contact with Anojan. His brother, Hamsithan Sivarasa, 24, said the last voice contact occurred earlier this week during a phone call with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. The family remains anxious and relies mainly on communications from the Saudi embassy in Colombo for updates.

The family has expressed gratitude for broad-based support, especially from the Muslim community and other groups advocating for Anojan’s release. Hamsithan emphasized that the actions of individuals should not be used to judge entire communities, highlighting ongoing tensions and the importance of solidarity.

Prominent Muslim organizations in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lanka National Shoora Council, the Sri Lanka Jamiyathul Ulama, and the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, have also appealed directly to the Saudi King to intervene in the case. The coordinated effort by various sectors of Sri Lankan society reflects the urgency and sensitivity surrounding Sivarasa’s legal predicament in Saudi Arabia.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.