• Appeals made to India, US and Maldives

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has sought international intervention to help secure a pardon for Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for alleged blasphemy.

Opposition ITAK Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said that a group of ITAK MPs appealed to the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the United States (US) Embassy to intervene during meetings held on Wednesday afternoon (23).

Meanwhile, a group of Hindu devotees held a candlelight satyagraha outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station on Wednesday night, calling for Anojan’s life to be spared.

The Chief Priest of the Borella Paththini Devalaya, S. Vinayagan Kurukkal, who participated in the protest, said they were appealing to both the Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian Governments to take steps to save the young man.

President’s Counsels Faiszer Musthapha and Upul Kumarapperuma have also commenced efforts to secure Anojan’s release from the death sentence.

As part of these efforts, the two lawyers reportedly travelled to the Maldives on Wednesday and met former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, seeking his intervention to help save the Sri Lankan national.

Musthapha said the appeal was made to Nasheed because of the Maldives’ close relations with the Saudi Arabian Government.

The two lawyers are also scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days as part of ongoing efforts to secure Anojan’s release from the death sentence.