COLOMBO, Oct. 7 -- The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan national facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, sustained scratch injuries during an altercation with a fellow inmate and was not attacked with a knife or other weapon.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Anojan was not facing any threat to his life and had been transferred to another cell following the incident at Dammam Prison.

Herath was responding to questions raised under Standing Order 27(2) by Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) during Wednesday's (7) parliamentary sitting.

The minister said the incident began with a verbal ...