Day of mourning if bill against death penalty presented in Parliament

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would declare a national day of mourning if the bill to abolish the death penalty is brought to Parliament.

Addressing an event in the Walawa area today (Jul 14), the President stressed that it was criminals and drug dealers who would benefit by this bill.

He reiterated his commitment towards re-introducing judicial hangings in the country by stating that he would not reverse his decision to do so. Sirisena also remarked that he would not allow criminals and drug criminals to destroy young lives in the country.

While claiming that certain individuals were opposing this decision to appease certain foreign organisations, the President called for a collective voice to emerge from within the public in a bid to save the children.

His remarks came in the wake of parliamentarian Bandula Lal Bandarigoda's private member's bill seeking to abolish capital punishment, which was put forward before Parliament this week.