Sri Lankan MP Seeks Modi’s Help For Tamil Youth Facing Reported Death Sentence In Saudi Arabia

A Sri Lankan opposition lawmaker has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the case of Anoj(an) Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan Tamil migrant worker facing judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia over a social media post allegedly deemed insulting to Islam.

Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan made the appeal on Saturday, citing Modi’s close ties with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He asked Dissanayake to request Modi to personally approach the Saudi leadership and seek a humanitarian resolution for Sivarasa.

The case has intensified in recent days after Sivarasa's lawyer reportedly informed the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh that a Saudi appellate court had enhanced his original sentence to capital punishment. However, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has not formally confirmed that a death sentence has been issued because the embassy is still awaiting the written judgment from the Saudi judicial authorities.

Sivarasa, from Natpiddimunai in Kalmunai, travelled to Saudi Arabia for work about nine months ago. He was initially sentenced on July 15 to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals over social media content that was deemed insulting to a religion. His lawyer subsequently appealed the sentence.

The reported escalation has triggered calls for action from several Sri Lankan politicians. Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has said he will raise the case in Parliament next week and has called for experienced independent legal representation, further diplomatic intervention and exploration of clemency options.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said it is continuing to engage with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels and is taking steps to safeguard Sivarasa’s interests. The ministry has also indicated that the reported judgment could be appealed before Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court within one month.

Meanwhile, Sivarasa’s family has appealed for government intervention. Former minister Rishad Bathiudeen also met the family and said Muslim parliamentarians would work together to seek intervention from the Sri Lankan government and Saudi authorities.

The immediate focus remains on obtaining the formal Saudi court judgment, clarifying the exact legal status of the case and pursuing available legal, diplomatic and humanitarian avenues.