A Sri Lankan opposition lawmaker on Saturday (September 19, 2026) urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the case of a minority Tamil youth facing judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has, however, not confirmed that Sivarasa has been sentenced to death. Ganesan added. The lawyer has informed the Embassy that the judgment could be appealed before Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court within one month.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (September 18, 2026) said: “The Ministry remains engaged with the relevant Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels and is taking appropriate steps to safeguard Mr.
“I urge President @anuradisanayake to bring #Anojan_Sivarasa’s desperate plight to the urgent attention of your friend, recipient of ‘SriLanka Rathna’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan said in a post on X. “Given PM Modi’s close ties with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, I appeal to you to ask PM Modi to personally intervene with Crown Prince Salman and seek a humanitarian resolution for Anojan,” Mr. Sivarasa is a minority Tamil from Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, officials said. Anojan Sivarasa’s interests and provide him with all possible assistance.” it said in a statement. Sivarasa’s lawyer later verbally informed the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh that the sentence had reportedly been enhanced to capital punishment, according to the report. The Embassy, in consultation with the Ministry, is taking steps to pursue the appeal in coordination with Sivarasa’s family, it said.
