The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has sought an urgent meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a pardon and release for 26-year-old Sivarasa Anojan, who has been handed a death sentence in Saudi Arabia.
In a letter addressed to President Dissanayake dated September 22, ITAK said it wanted to discuss the way forward in securing a pardon and release for Anojan and urged urgent action in view of the seriousness of his situation.
The letter, signed by ITAK President C.V.K. Sivagnanam and General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran PC, also nominated Ampara District MP Kavendran Kodeeswaran to represent the party on a delegation expected to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“We write this letter to seek an urgent meeting with yourself to discuss the way forward in securing a pardon and release of this young man,” the party stated in its letter to the President.
ITAK said Kodeeswaran had been nominated following an announcement made in Parliament by the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding a delegation that would proceed to Saudi Arabia.
The party said it was anxiously awaiting an early response from the President regarding its request for a meeting.
In a separate statement issued on September 23, ITAK said its MPs had held discussions with diplomatic missions in Colombo and representatives of several countries over the past several days in an effort to secure international support for Anojan.
According to ITAK Parliamentary Group Leader, MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, those diplomatic representatives had been briefed on the facts of Anojan’s case as presently known to ITAK, while their support had been sought for efforts aimed at securing a pardon and his eventual release.
MP Shanakiyan said diaspora organisations working closely with the party had also contacted governments and relevant authorities in the countries where they operate, seeking diplomatic and humanitarian support in relation to the case.
Following these engagements, he said it had identified additional diplomatic avenues and proposals which it believes should be urgently considered by the Sri Lankan Government.
The Batticaloa District MP further said that it now wants to brief President Dissanayake directly on the diplomatic engagements already undertaken and present specific proposals for further action.
Among the options being proposed is seeking assistance from friendly countries which may be in a position to support Sri Lanka in its engagement with the Saudi Arabian authorities.
MP Shanakiyan stressed that all available avenues should be pursued through coordinated, high-level diplomatic engagement alongside the ongoing consular and diplomatic efforts of the Sri Lankan Government.
He said its objective was to ensure that every possible effort was made to secure a pardon and the safe release of Anojan.
The MP also said that the ITAK has expressed its willingness to work with President Dissanayake, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic partners, diaspora organisations and other relevant parties in pursuing the matter. (Newswire)
