Saudi Arabian authorities have decided to discontinue all legal proceedings against Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national who was previously sentenced to death over a Facebook post, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has confirmed.
According to the Foreign Minister, the Saudi Arabian Public Prosecution decided on November 9, 2026, not to pursue further legal action against Anojan, effectively clearing him of the charges.
On September 17, 2026, a Saudi Court of Appeal in the Eastern Province sentenced Anojan to death over a Facebook post that Saudi authorities considered unlawful.
Following diplomatic interventions by Sri Lanka, the Saudi court overturned the death sentence on October 14. However, as other penalties remained in place, Sri Lankan authorities continued their efforts to secure his complete release.
With the latest decision by the Saudi Public Prosecution, the remaining legal proceedings have concluded, paving the way for Anojan to return to Sri Lanka.
Minister Herath said the Government was taking the necessary steps to facilitate his return and that he was expected to arrive in the country within the next one to two weeks.
Meanwhile, members of Anojan’s family visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and expressed their gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Ministry and other state institutions and officials involved in securing his release.
The Foreign Minister said the President’s guidance, diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the dedication of relevant officials had contributed to the outcome.
He also expressed appreciation to the Government of Saudi Arabia, its judiciary, diplomatic officials from both countries and the legal team that travelled to Saudi Arabia to handle the case.
