Saudi Court cancels Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence amid Sri Lanka Cricket’s UAE boycott threat

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence given to Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, 27. Colombo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed the development. Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September after a Saudi appellate court convicted him of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over a comment he made on Facebook.

The development comes amid reports that Sri Lanka Cricket is considering a boycott of matches against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the case. According to media reports, Sri Lanka Cricket has privately approached Gulf countries and asked them to help persuade Saudi Arabia to reconsider the death sentence. The reported move was aimed at building support to overturn the sentence.

Reports also claimed that Sri Lanka could refuse to play against Gulf countries if the sentence was not reduced or cancelled. However, the alleged boycott threat has not been independently verified. The Supreme Court’s decision to set aside Sivarasa’s death sentence marks a major development in the case, which had raised concerns in Sri Lanka and led to efforts to seek support from other countries.

Saudi Court cancels Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence given to Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, 27. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra, confirmed the development in a post on X. He shared the news with the message, “Good News 🇱🇰 The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has set aside the judgment imposing the death penalty on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.” He also thanked everyone who supported the efforts.

Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September after a Saudi appellate court convicted him of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over a comment he made on Facebook. The case caused widespread concern in Sri Lanka and led to diplomatic efforts to seek clemency. Hemachandra described the latest development as “a major relief for Anojan Sivarasa” and said it followed sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Sri Lankan government.

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In his post, Hemachandra also thanked the authorities and legal teams of both countries for their efforts in the case. The matter had drawn public attention in Sri Lanka after online discussions and religious arguments spread on social media. The decision to set aside the death sentence marks an important development for Sivarasa and his family as the case continues through the legal process.

Why Sri Lanka Cricket is weighing a UAE boycott

According to media reports, Sri Lanka Cricket had privately approached Gulf countries and asked them to help persuade Saudi Arabia to reconsider the death sentence given to Sri Lankan citizen Sivarasa Anojan. Reports also claimed that Sri Lanka could refuse to play against Gulf countries if the sentence was not reduced or cancelled. However, the alleged boycott threat had not been independently confirmed.

Reports suggested that the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman were trying to help resolve the matter. However, the final decision on the death sentence rested with the Saudi Arabian authorities. If Sri Lanka Cricket had decided to boycott matches in the UAE, the move could have affected cricketing relations between the two countries.

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Sri Lanka Cricket’s upcoming matches in the UAE faced uncertainty amid reports of a possible boycott. The board was reportedly considering its options while the Sri Lankan government continued its efforts to seek clemency for Anojan. However, no official announcement had confirmed a boycott, and the team’s participation in the UAE remained uncertain pending Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision and further diplomatic efforts.

What happens next for Anojan and Sri Lanka Cricket

Sri Lanka is expected to continue its diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety of Sivarasa Anojan after Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court set aside his death sentence. The Sri Lankan government has thanked the authorities and legal teams of both countries for their support. Further updates will depend on the legal process and any official statements from the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket’s position on the reported UAE boycott remains unclear. Media reports had claimed that the cricket board was considering refusing to play against Gulf countries to put pressure on Saudi Arabia. However, the alleged boycott threat was not independently confirmed, and no official announcement established that Sri Lanka Cricket would withdraw from its scheduled matches in the UAE.

The next steps will depend on further diplomatic discussions and decisions by Sri Lanka Cricket. The Sri Lankan government is expected to continue working with relevant authorities on Anojan’s case, while cricket fans will be waiting for clarity about the team’s upcoming fixtures. Any change to Sri Lanka’s cricket schedule will depend on an official decision from the board.