Sri Lankan MP seeks PM Modi’s help for release of Tamil youth accused of blasphemy in Saudi

Sri Lankan opposition lawmaker Mano Ganesan has appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the case of a Sri Lankan Tamil youth, Anojan Sivarasa, facing potential execution in Saudi Arabia. The call for assistance stems from Modi's close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Ganesan wrote on X, urging Dissanayake to bring Sivarasa's situation to Modi's attention, given the prime minister's strong ties with the Saudi leadership. Sivarasa, a Tamil from Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, had traveled to Saudi Arabia for work nine months ago. The Sri Lankan foreign ministry has not confirmed Sivarasa's death sentence, but has stated that they are actively engaged with Saudi authorities and providing support to the youth as the case progresses.

Initially, Sivarasa was sentenced to five years in prison for posting content deemed blasphemous on social media. However, his lawyer confirmed that the sentence had been upgraded to capital punishment, and the embassy is awaiting the official written judgment from Saudi authorities before proceeding with any further action.