Abolishing death penalty, equal to averting punishment on those behind Easter attacks : President

President Maithripala Sirisena said he believes that attempts to abolish the death penalty were attempts to avert the punishment due to those responsible for the brutal Easter terror attacks.

He made these remarks at an event held at the Pelada Raja Maha Viharaya today (Jul 16).

The President’s remarks came in the backdrop of his repeated calls to implement the death penalty for drug convicts, in a move, which he claimed was to protect the children of the country.

“According to the Criminal Procedure Code, persons found guilty of murder, treason, and terrorism could be sentenced to death,” the President pointed out.

Mr. Sirisena noted that the suspects implicated in the central bank bond scam have been arrested and that he has held talks with the Singaporean Prime Minister in order to return former Central Bank governor Arjuna Mahendran to try him over the case.

Mahendran, is a wanted suspect in the treasury bond scam, and has been evading arrest by seeking refuge in Singapore, despite red notices issued by the INTERPOL on his arrest.

Meanwhile, the President also said that he vehemently condemns any defamatory remarks made against the Maha Sangha. He made this remark in the wake of State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake’s statement on a social media interview stating that young Buddhist monks were being abused at temples.

Related stories

PM seeks explanation from Ranjan over remarks on the Mahasangha

Day of mourning if bill against death penalty presented in Parliament