Anojan's death penalty is abolished

Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra, has announced that the High Court of Saudi Arabia has decided to revoke the death penalty imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.

The Deputy Minister, in a post on his social media account, stated that the decision to revoke the death penalty was issued by the Saudi Arabian High Court on October 13, 2026.

Mr. Hemachandra pointed out that this decision was a result of the continuous diplomatic and legal actions taken by the Sri Lankan government, adding that it is a great relief for Anojan Sivarasa's side. The Deputy Minister extended his special thanks to the Government of Saudi Arabia for the cooperation and flexibility shown during this legal process. Furthermore, the Minister's gratitude has been extended to the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chairman and members of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, as well as the Sri Lankan and Saudi legal teams who dedicated themselves to this challenging task. Although no further information has been revealed regarding Anojan Sivarasa's legal status and future legal steps, this decision is considered a significant turning point for the advancement of his case.