Sri Lanka says Saudi case against Anojan Sivarasa closed; return arrangements underway
Update, November 12: President cites outcome in Budget speech
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the outcome in Anojan Sivarasa's Saudi case as a major success for Sri Lanka while presenting the 2027 Budget, Published reporting indicates. He linked it to what he described as the country's improving international standing. That is the President's political assessment of the outcome, separate from the legal steps that ended the case.
The Foreign Ministry's November 11 statement says Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court set aside the death sentence on October 13, 2026 and sent the matter for further proceedings. After an October 27 hearing and further investigation, the Public Prosecution decided not to continue and formally closed the case. The ministry says all previous sentences are no longer in force. These details come from the Sri Lankan ministry; the underlying Saudi court file has not been independently inspected here.
Published reporting indicates that Sivarasa's family met the President on November 12 to thank him, and that he acknowledged Saudi cooperation and the work of officials and lawyers. The ministry says embassy coordination continues to complete the legal and administrative formalities for his return. Neither the statement nor the family meeting confirms that he has already arrived in Sri Lanka. The earlier account below is retained rather than creating a duplicate case-closure story.
Sri Lanka says Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution has closed the case against Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, bringing the remaining proceedings to an end after his earlier death sentence was set aside. Published reporting reported the development on November 11, citing the Sri Lankan government and Foreign Ministry.
According to the ministry statement carried by the published report, the prosecution decided not to continue after further investigation, and all sentences previously imposed are no longer in force. The statement describes a formal closure of proceedings. This report does not treat that as a new judgment from a court or claim to have independently inspected the Saudi case file.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met Sivarasa's family on November 11 to explain the outcome and the arrangements being made for his return. The ministry said the Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh was working with Saudi authorities to complete the required legal and administrative formalities. A completed return to Sri Lanka had not been confirmed in those reports.
Sri Lanka thanked Saudi authorities for their cooperation and acknowledged the work of Sri Lankan and Saudi legal experts and diplomatic officials. The latest announcement concerns the end of the case and preparations for repatriation; an arrival date remains to be confirmed.