CHR calls to abolish Executive President's powers to implement death penalty

Sri Lanka's Centre for Human Rights (CHR) has called for the abolishment of the powers vested with the Executive President to implement the death penalty.

"These powers of the Executive could be abolished with a majority in Parliament," Surangi Ariyawansa, Acting Executive Director of the rights body was quoted as saying in a press release.

Ms. Ariyawansa opined that the decision to implement the punishment was not acceptable since several democratic countries have almost abolished the capital punishment.

While pointing out that countries have not succeeded in reducing crime rates despite implementing the punishment, the CHR Executive Director had warned that its implementation would only result in creating a less civilised society.

She had also stressed that the desired results could not be achieved through this punishment while shirking off the responsibility to formulate stronger anti-narcotic laws.