Shanakiyan speaks to BBC on efforts to overturn Anojan’s death sentence in Saudi Arabia

A legal delegation from Sri Lanka has arrived in Saudi Arabia to hold discussions with authorities concerning the death sentence handed down to 24-year-old migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan over a Facebook comment.

Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, speaking to BBC Newsday, confirmed that the delegation consists of “three senior lawyers and somebody from the Attorney General’s Department in Colombo. We haven’t formally heard back from Saudi Arabia, but there is a delegation that has been sent by the President of Sri Lanka that is currently in Saudi Arabia”.

Shanakiyan further explained that while the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed parliament that an appeal process is being pursued with a deadline of October 17, Rasamanickam outlined the government’s dual approach, noting, “There seems to be a twin approach, one approach is to ask for clemency and to pardon Anujan, and the state is also… contemplating on re-appealing the case to a higher court”.

Rasamanickam noted that Anojan’s younger brother in Sri Lanka reported Anojan was attacked with a sharp object while in prison, though the Foreign Minister Herath informed parliament that while a confrontation with another inmate occurred, no such weapon attack took place. Rasamanickam added that authorities are relying on the statement provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia while remaining concerned and hopeful. (Newswire)

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