Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Sri Lankan Lawmaker Seeks Modi Help in Saudi Case
A Sri Lankan worker named Anojan Sivarasa is involved in a court case in Saudi Arabia.
The case reportedly began after a social media post was considered insulting to a religion.
His family says he was sentenced to death.
However, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has not officially confirmed that a death sentence was issued.
An earlier report said he received five years in prison and a large fine.
A Sri Lankan lawmaker asked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek help from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The lawmaker believes Modi could raise the matter with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Sri Lankan officials say they are speaking with Saudi authorities and working with Sivarasa’s family on a possible appeal.
Opposition lawmaker Mano Ganesan urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to ask Narendra Modi to intervene in Anojan Sivarasa’s case.
Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan Tamil youth, faces judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia over social media content allegedly deemed insulting to a religion.
His family says he received a death sentence, but Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the reported capital punishment.
An earlier reported sentence comprised five years in prison and a three-million-riyal fine.
His lawyer reportedly told Sri Lankan officials that an appeal could be filed with Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court within one month.
- Who
- Anojан Sivarasa, Mano Ganesan, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Narendra Modi, and Sri Lankan diplomatic officials are involved.
- What
- Ganesan asked Sri Lanka’s president to seek Modi’s intervention in Sivarasa’s Saudi judicial case.
- When
- The reports were published on September 19; the Foreign Ministry issued its statement on the preceding Friday.
- Where
- The proceedings are in Saudi Arabia, while Sivarasa is from Natpittimunai in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.
- Why
- The case reportedly concerns social media content deemed insulting to a religion, and Ganesan is seeking a humanitarian resolution.
Death Sentence Reported
Formal Confirmation Pending
Status of the punishment
Death Sentence Reported
Sivarasa’s family claimed he had been sentenced to death, and his lawyer reportedly told the Sri Lankan Embassy that the sentence had been enhanced to capital punishment.
Formal Confirmation Pending
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry and embassy had not formally confirmed the death sentence and were awaiting the written judgment from Saudi judicial authorities.
Diplomatic response
Death Sentence Reported
Mano Ganesan urged Sri Lanka’s president to ask Narendra Modi to raise the case with Mohammed bin Salman and seek a humanitarian resolution.
Formal Confirmation Pending
Sri Lankan officials said they were engaging Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels and coordinating possible legal action with Sivarasa’s family.
- Person concerned
- Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan Tamil national from the Eastern Province
- Employment in Saudi Arabia
- Sivarasa reportedly traveled there for employment nine months before the report
- Initial reported sentence
- Five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals
- Reported later development
- Sivarasa’s lawyer verbally informed the Sri Lankan Embassy that the sentence had reportedly been enhanced to capital punishment
- Official confirmation
- Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry and embassy had not confirmed the reported death sentence pending a written judgment
- Appeal timeline
- An appeal could reportedly be filed before Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court within one month
- Requested intervention
- Mano Ganesan asked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek Narendra Modi’s assistance with Mohammed bin Salman
