Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has issued an urgent call to the Sri Lankan government to take immediate steps to save the life of a Sri Lankan national, Sivarasa Anojan, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. The lawmaker, representing the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) party, made the appeal through a statement posted on the social media platform 'X', warning that time is running out and that decisive diplomatic intervention is critically needed before it is too late.
MP Shanakiyan Raises Alarm Over Death Sentence
Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, a prominent voice for Tamil communities in Sri Lanka's Parliament, expressed deep concern over the reported fate of Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan migrant worker allegedly facing execution in Saudi Arabia. In his statement, the MP made clear that he intends to raise the matter formally in Parliament during the upcoming week, signaling that this issue deserves national attention at the highest legislative level.
The MP also questioned whether the Sri Lankan government has been adequately monitoring the welfare of its citizens working abroad, particularly in Gulf countries where large numbers of Sri Lankan migrant workers are employed under conditions that sometimes leave them vulnerable to legal and human rights challenges. Shanakiyan's intervention has drawn significant public attention to a case that many fear has not received the urgency it demands from official authorities.
Who Is Sivarasa Anojan?
Sivarasa Anojan is a Sri Lankan national who reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia as a migrant worker, as do hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans each year seeking better economic opportunities in the Gulf region. Details surrounding the specific charges that led to his reported death sentence remain limited in public disclosures, but the gravity of the situation has prompted urgent calls for the government to seek clarification and pursue all available diplomatic channels to intervene on his behalf.
Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries often face significant legal and social vulnerabilities, including language barriers, limited access to legal representation, and challenges navigating foreign judicial systems. Advocacy groups have long raised concerns about the adequacy of consular support provided to Sri Lankan nationals facing legal troubles abroad.
Government Yet to Respond Formally
As of the time of this report, the Sri Lankan government has not issued a formal public response to the concerns raised by MP Shanakiyan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which are the primary bodies responsible for protecting the rights of Sri Lankan workers overseas, have yet to publicly acknowledge the case or outline any steps being taken to address the reported death sentence.
Critics argue that the government's apparent silence on the matter is deeply troubling, given the irreversible nature of a death sentence. Human rights advocates and opposition politicians are calling for the Foreign Ministry to immediately contact Saudi Arabian authorities, engage legal counsel on behalf of Anojan, and provide transparent updates to his family and the Sri Lankan public about the status of his case.
Broader Issue of Migrant Worker Protections
The case of Sivarasa Anojan brings renewed focus to the broader and persistent issue of protecting Sri Lankan migrant workers in foreign countries. Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on remittances sent home by workers employed abroad, with the Gulf region accounting for a significant share of this economic lifeline. Saudi Arabia alone is home to a large Sri Lankan expatriate community, many of whom work in domestic service, construction, and other labor-intensive sectors.
Despite this economic reality, critics have consistently pointed out that Sri Lanka's systems for safeguarding its citizens abroad remain underfunded and under-resourced. Cases of abuse, wrongful imprisonment, and inadequate legal support have been documented over the years, raising serious questions about the government's commitment to protecting its most economically vulnerable citizens who venture overseas in search of a livelihood.
Calls for Immediate Diplomatic Action
MP Shanakiyan's public appeal has resonated widely on social media, with many Sri Lankans expressing outrage and demanding swift government action. Civil society organizations and human rights groups have echoed the MP's call, urging the government to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness and to deploy all available diplomatic resources to prevent the execution of Sivarasa Anojan.
With the MP set to raise the issue in Parliament next week, pressure is mounting on the government to provide clear answers about what steps are being taken to engage with Saudi authorities and to ensure that Anojan receives fair legal representation and a thorough review of his case before any sentence is carried out.
The outcome of this case will likely serve as a critical test of Sri Lanka's willingness and capacity to stand up for the rights of its citizens abroad, particularly those from marginalized communities who often lack the resources or influence to advocate effectively for themselves.