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Death Penalty

Not murder by the state
Discussions about the rising crime wave will come to naught if the death penalty is not re-introduced in the country. These days we hear of schoolchildren being involved in crimes such as viciously stabbing to death fellow students.

Some may argue that killing the killer amounts to state-sponsored murder which is unacceptable in a civilized society. If we look back at history, we can see that our kings did implement modes of capital punishment that were worse than hanging, to maintain law and order. Criminals were executed in public using various methods.

Yet, history records these kings as respected and noble rulers who brought prosperity to the country. The people of those times, including teachers and preachers never protested. The death penalty is the solution to bring down the rising wave of brutal crime.

S.M. Razeek
Nawalapitiya

Take these steps first
It is essential to re-introduce the death penalty to curb the wave of crime in our country. There is no alternative. However, before implementing capital punishment, some preventive measures should be taken.

There should be strict prohibition of pornographic and violent films and tabloids that lead youth astray. Steps should be taken to raise moral standards in schools through curricular activities and the mass media. The government should pay more attention to eradicating poverty, for poverty is regarded as the parent of crime. Drug dealers and users should be punished severely, whatever their political affiliations.

The government should take the responsibility of closing the paths that lead to crime before the implementation of the death penalty.

M. R. Hisham
Kahatowita

It should be enforced
In any democracy, the law of the land takes precedence. Our law stipulates that anyone found guilty of homicide by a court of law shall be hanged. Therefore, it is nothing but proper that the legal process is allowed to take its course.

A person may kill another but every such killer is not sentenced to death. The circumstances under which the murder has been committed are taken into consideration, before the death sentence is passed. If someone has attacked another under grave and sudden provocation and he succumbs to his injuries and it is proven that the attacker was acting in self-defence, he may get off with a sentence less harsh than death.

However, a person who conspires or plans to kill will face the death penalty, if after the conclusion of judicial proceedings, he is found guilty of homicide. If it is genuinely felt that some unjust procedure had been followed at any stage of the investigation or trial, there is an appeal process.

It is not logical to argue that hardcore criminals who carry out premeditated murders will ever reform themselves, given a chance. The masses have to be protected by getting rid of such people after a proper trial.
The death sentence should be enforced.

M. Ratnam
Point Pedro

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