Appeal Court to announce ruling on petition against death penalty on July 17

The Appeal Court has announced that it would deliver its verdict concerning the writ petition against the death penalty on July 17.

Accordingly, Prisons Commissioner General T.M.Thennakoon told court today that no executions would take place until then.

Malinda Senaviratne, a journalist had filed the petition at the Appeal Court challenging the Prisons Commissioner General's decision to implement the death penalty. Mr. Thennakoon and the Welikada Prisons Superintendent had been named as respondents to the petition.

However, Mr. Thennakoon had informed court that he has not received any official documents on the death penalty so far. He had stated that he would submit such documents to court upon receiving them.

The petitioner had sought an interim court order to prevent the punishment from being implemented by citing it as a violation of fundamental human rights.

Court announced that they would decide on proceeding with the case and issuing summons on the respondents to the petition when the case is taken up again on July 17.

The petition is being heard before a five-member judge bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Deepali Wijesundera, Janak de Silva, and Achala Wengappuli.