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To hang or not to hang as MS seeks Parliamentary consensus
Sri Lanka is likely to face objections from EU nations as well as human rights groups against moves to reintroduce the death penalty, despite growing support in the country for its implementation, said Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe.
The Minister said the heinous nature of crimes being committed in the country has led many civil society groups to urge him to bring back the death penalty.“Many groups have written to me, and a “sandeshaya” too, has been handed over to me asking that the death penalty be reintroduced.
Ten years ago, those who supported the death penalty were fewer, but today, many people feel death sentences must be carried out,” the Minister said.
Debate on the death penalty has been reignited after President Maithripala Sirisena said he would implement the death penalty from next year, after seeking the opinion of Parliament and the support of the legislators.
“The death penalty is carried out after its endorsement by the President, but in the coming months I hope to seek the consent of Parliament before taking a decision on carrying out the death penalty,” the President said at a function this week on tackling the drug menace in the country.
Sri Lanka was among the few countries that abstained from voting in support of a UN resolution in 2012, for a global moratorium on the use of the death penalty, but no executions have been carried out in the country since 1977, the Justice Minister said.
Only 36 countries abstained from voting on the resolution, but it was adopted by the UN General Assembly with 110 countries voting in its favor and 39 against it.
The Minister said the debate on the death penalty in Parliament is likely to come by way of an adjournment motion or a resolution, and MPs likely to be allowed to speak according to their conscience rather than on party lines.
“Even if the death penalty is carried out, it won’t be blanket cover to execute everyone who is sentenced to death. It will be only for specific crimes including ones such as the rape and murder of the child that took place recently,” he added.
He said the death penalty has been abolished in all Europe Unions nations, while there are also calls for a global abolition of the death penalty. However, countries such as the USA, China and India implement the death penalty.
“There is no lapse in the law in Sri Lanka on the death penalty. It can be carried out anytime if the President sanctions it,” he added.
Several Parliamentarians including Sajith Premadasa, Ranjan Ramanayaka and Sudarshini Fernandopulle have already come out strongly in support of implementing the death penalty.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Prisons Rohana Pushpakumara said they have shortlisted 15 candidates who had applied for the post of hangman. “We will make the final selection of two on October 2,” he said.
There are 1,115 inmates on death row at present. Any execution will be carried out in the gallows at Welikada prison, the only prison in the country with the facility.