President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has welcomed a decision by Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court to set aside the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, saying it brings immense relief to him, his family and all Sri Lankans who followed the case with deep concern.
The court set aside the judgment on October 13, and Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra announced the decision on Wednesday (14).
In a post on X, the President said the outcome reflected the value of patient diplomacy, respect for the legal processes of a friendly nation and the tireless work of those who stood by a Sri Lankan citizen abroad.
He thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi and Sri Lankan diplomats, civil servants and legal teams involved.
He said his Government would continue to give Sivarasa and his family all necessary support as the remaining legal processes conclude, and that no Sri Lankan who leaves the country in search of a livelihood should ever feel alone.
Sivarasa, 24, is from Natpittimunai in Kalmunai in the Eastern Province and went to Saudi Arabia in September 2025 to work as a technical engineer at a battery factory.
He was arrested on July 1 over a Facebook comment judged insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, which he reportedly posted during an online dispute that followed an incident at a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka.
His family says he deleted the comment and posted an apology video, but a screenshot reached his employer and the Saudi authorities.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court first sentenced him to five years in prison and fined him three million Saudi riyals.
On September 17, after prosecutors asked for the case to be tried under Sharia law instead of cybercrime legislation, an appellate court raised the sentence to death.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said an earlier appeal seeking a reduction had been rejected.
Amnesty International called on Saudi Arabia to quash the sentence, overturn the conviction and release him, saying the case raised alarming concerns about the use of the death penalty for online expression.
The President met Sivarasa’s family on September 21 and assured them the Government would spare no effort.
A Sri Lankan legal team was sent to Riyadh to work with two Saudi law firms on a special appeal before the Supreme Court.
However, it remains unclear whether the original five-year prison term and fine still apply, or whether Sivarasa will be released.