Sri Lanka Tamil State Party MPs Meet Indian High Commissioner and US Diplomat

25-Sep-2026

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Members of Parliament representing the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) met Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and Anthony V. Birnot, Political and Economic Counsellor at the US Embassy in Colombo, and discussed possible avenues for securing the release of Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

Following an appeal against the sentence imposed on Anojan by a Saudi Arabian court over an allegation of blasphemy, after he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and fined earlier last month, the death penalty has now reportedly been imposed on him.

Against this backdrop, ITAK Parliamentarians met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and US Embassy Political and Economic Counsellor Anthony V. Birnot on 23 September 2026 and briefed them, on behalf of Anojan’s family, on the information and circumstances known to them concerning the case.

They also requested the diplomats to support efforts being made to secure Anojan’s release and save his life.

They further discussed possible diplomatic avenues in the matter and stressed the need for coordinated action with the relevant authorities.