Saudi Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence for Sri Lankan Worker
The Saudi Supreme Court has annulled the death penalty for Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan migrant, following diplomatic efforts from Sri Lanka.
The Saudi Supreme Court set aside the death penalty for Anojan Sivarasa on October 13, 2026.
The case will be reviewed by a lower court, with a new hearing expected within two weeks.
The ruling follows significant diplomatic pressure from Sri Lanka and international human rights organizations.
On October 13, 2026, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia annulled the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan engineer. This decision came after sustained diplomatic efforts by the Sri Lankan government, as confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra. He described the ruling as a significant relief for Sivarasa, who hails from the eastern Ampara district of Sri Lanka.
The case against Sivarasa originated from a Facebook post he made in June 2026, which was perceived as blasphemous during a heated online discussion regarding a video involving a dog and a Muslim man. Initially sentenced to five years in prison, Sivarasa's punishment escalated to a death sentence by the Saudi Court of Appeal in September 2026. Following this, the Sri Lankan government mobilized legal and diplomatic channels to appeal the decision.
Upul Kumarapperuma, a senior lawyer involved in the case, stated that the Supreme Court has referred the matter back to the lower court that initially handled it. He anticipates that the case will be heard again within a fortnight, potentially leading to a new sentence. This development has been met with relief by many in Sri Lanka, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who emphasized the importance of patient diplomacy and the need for support for Sri Lankan citizens abroad.
The ruling has sparked a significant outcry within Sri Lanka, with various political and civil society groups advocating for the overturning of the death sentence. International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also called on Saudi authorities to reconsider the ruling. Human Rights Watch highlighted that Saudi Arabia has executed over 2,000 individuals in the past decade, raising concerns about the adherence to both Saudi and international law.
While there are ongoing discussions about the death penalty in Sri Lanka, the country has not carried out any executions in the last fifty years. The outcome of Sivarasa's case could influence future conversations regarding capital punishment in both Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, as the world watches closely for the next steps in this high-profile legal battle.
