Sri Lanka, Nov. 11 -- In a major diplomatic victory, Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan national previously facing charges in Saudi Arabia, has been acquitted by the Saudi judiciary. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, confirmed that the government is taking all necessary steps to arrange his repatriation to Sri Lanka.

The breakthrough comes after months of sustained diplomatic engagement. On 17 September 2026, an Eastern Province Appeals Court in Saudi Arabia had sentenced Sivarasa to death over allegations surrounding a Facebook post deemed blasphemous. High-level diplomatic intervention led to the court revoking the death sentence on 14 October 2026. Continued efforts by Sri Lankan officials ultimat...