Sri Lankan Ambassador visits Anojan Sivarasa at Dammam Central Prison following Saudi Court ruling

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, O.L. Ameer Ajwad, has visited Anojan Sivarasa at Dammam Central Prison yesterday (26), following the decision of the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia to set aside the death sentence previously imposed in his case and refer the matter for a fresh hearing.

During the visit, the Ambassador had held discussions with Anojan Sivarasa regarding the consular and legal assistance in connection to the forthcoming court proceedings, with a view to ensuring that he is adequately briefed on the judicial process, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh said in a statement.

The discussions focused on the importance of understanding the forthcoming legal proceedings and ensuring that all relevant matters are appropriately addressed through the established legal process, the statement said.

Ambassador Ameer Ajwad had reaffirmed the Embassy's continued consular engagement with Sivarasa and its commitment to facilitating appropriate legal and consular assistance throughout the ongoing proceedings.

He also had emphasized the importance of close coordination among Sivarasa, his legal counsel and the Embassy to ensure that the necessary support is provided throughout the process, with full respect for the independence of the judiciary and the due process of law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

The Ambassador also met with the prison authorities and expressed his sincere appreciation for their unstinted support to the Embassy and continued care to the welfare of Sivarasa during his detention, the Embassy added.

Ambassador Ameer Ajwad was accompanied by Vindana Munasinghe, First Secretary/Consular Affairs, and Sahul Hameed, Interpreter, of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh.