The government is taking all possible measures to secure the release and save the life of Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held today (29), Minister Jayatissa said the government is seeking the assistance of the former President of the Maldives to make an appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia.

He said arrangements are also being made to submit a letter to the Saudi King containing a request from the President and the signatures of Members of Parliament representing both the government and the opposition.

The Minister further said Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath is expected to meet with his Saudi counterpart on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and discuss the matter.

He stressed that the government is pursuing the matter through all available diplomatic channels, while the Sri Lankan Embassy has been taking the necessary diplomatic and legal measures since the incident occurred.

Minister Jayatissa noted that the matter must be handled under the laws of Saudi Arabia, where appeals have been submitted by both the Sri Lankan national and the Saudi government, with the court taking both appeals into consideration when issuing its decision.

“We are making every possible effort to save his life and bring him back to Sri Lanka,” the Minister said, adding that the government is pursuing the matter through every available avenue.