Family members of Mr Anojan Sivarasa, who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (12) and expressed their gratitude for his intervention in securing his release and acquittal on all charges.
During a cordial discussion with the family, the President said that it was his responsibility to stand up for Sri Lankan citizens at all times, wherever they may be in the world.
The President further emphasised that special appreciation should be extended to the Government of Saudi Arabia for securing Mr Sivarasa's release, as well as to everyone who intervened on his behalf, irrespective of differences in ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
Mr Sivarasa's parents informed the President that their son was currently in good health.
Mr Sivarasa's mother expressed her gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who had intervened from the outset to secure her son's release from the death sentence and ensure that he was cleared of all charges.
She also extended her appreciation to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra; Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, O.L. Ameer Ajwad, and the Embassy staff; the lawyers who travelled to Saudi Arabia and provided legal assistance; and all Sri Lankans who contributed to the efforts.
Social activist Rajkumar Rajeevkanth also thanked the President for intervening to secure Mr Sivarasa's release, in keeping with the assurance he had given when they first met.
He further revealed that, during the same period, Mr Sivarasa's parents had experienced severe psychological distress following the execution of a Bangladeshi couple who had also been sentenced to death.
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, Koshala Wickremasinghe, was also present at the meeting.
