The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has formally written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the way forward in securing a pardon and release for 26-year-old Sivarasa Anojan, who is facing a death sentence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In its letter dated 22 September 2026, ITAK requested the President’s intervention and stressed the urgency of pursuing every available diplomatic avenue.
ITAK has also nominated Hon. Kavendran Kodeeswaran, Member of Parliament for Ampara District, as the party’s representative on the delegation to Saudi Arabia announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Parliament.
Diplomatic Engagements and Further Proposals
Over the past several days, ITAK Members of Parliament have held discussions with diplomatic missions in Colombo and representatives of several countries, briefing them on the facts of Anojan’s case as presently known to us and requesting their support towards efforts to secure his pardon and release.
In parallel, diaspora organisations that work closely with ITAK have reached out to governments and relevant authorities in the countries in which they operate, seeking their diplomatic and humanitarian support in relation to Anojan’s case.
Based on these discussions with diplomatic missions, our conversations with representatives of different countries, and the engagement undertaken by diaspora organisations, we have identified further diplomatic avenues and proposals which we believe should be urgently considered by the Government of Sri Lanka.
We therefore seek to brief the President directly on these engagements and place before him specific proposals for further diplomatic action, including the possibility of seeking the assistance of friendly countries that may be able to support Sri Lanka’s engagement with the Saudi authorities.
Given the gravity and urgency of the situation, every available avenue must be pursued through coordinated, high-level diplomatic engagement, alongside the Government’s ongoing consular and diplomatic efforts.
Our objective is clear: all possible efforts must be made to secure a pardon and the safe release of Sivarasa Anojan.
ITAK remains ready to work with the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic partners, diaspora organisations and all other relevant parties towards achieving this objective.
The letter to the President was signed by C.V.K. Sivagnanam, President of ITAK, and M.A. Sumanthiran PC, General Secretary of ITAK.
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