The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has appealed to the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the United States Embassy to intervene in efforts to pardon Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Ada Derana, Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said that a group of ITAK MPs made the request during meetings held last afternoon (23).

Meanwhile, a group of Hindu devotees held a candlelight Satyagraha outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station last night, calling for the life of the young Sri Lankan reportedly sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia 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.

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha and President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma have officially commenced efforts to secure Anojan’s release from the death sentence.

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

Faizer Mustapha told Ada Derana that the appeal was made to the former Maldivian President because of his country’s 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 Sivarasa Anojan’s release from the death sentence.