EU States write to President on reintroducing death penalty

The Delegation of the European Union, the missions of the EU Member States in Sri Lanka as well as the diplomatic missions of the Governments of Canada and Norway in Sri Lanka have written to President Maithripala Sirisena to verify the worrying information in the public domain about the intention of the Sri Lankan government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years, a statement from the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Colombo said.

The mentioned diplomatic missions have made known in their letter that they strongly and unequivocally oppose capital punishment in all circumstances and in all cases. The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity, does not have any proven deterrent effect, and allows judicial errors to become fatal and irreversible.

The diplomatic missions have requested the President to maintain the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty and to uphold Sri Lanka's tradition of opposition to capital punishment.

The undersigned signatory EU states as follows:

Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka

British High Commission in Sri Lanka

Embassy of France in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Germany in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka

Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Romania in Sri Lanka

High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka

Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka

British High Commission in Sri Lanka

Embassy of France in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Germany in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka

Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka

Embassy of Romania in Sri Lanka

High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka