Executions being used to cover up one's faults : MP Bandarigoda

Certain individuals are attempting to implement the death penalty in order to cover up one’s own faults, Parliamentarian Bandula Lal Bandarigoda said today (Jul 5).

Addressing a press briefing, the Parliamentarian insisted that state leaders must take steps to implement developed mechanisms in order to reduce crime rates in the country.

MP Bandarigoda today submitted a private members bill to Parliament against moves to re-introduce executions in the country.

According to the bill, any act which suggests the death penalty as punishment must be amended in order to reduce the punishment to a life imprisonment term, he noted.

The bill also proposes that anyone who has been sentenced to death even before the bill is passed in Parliament must be handed over a life imprisonment term.

Further, a person who has committed an offence which could result in being sentenced to death, must also be considered as a suspect who could be given a life-term, the MP stated.

“Some might claim that we are trying to protect the offenders. But I have not tarnished my image throughout my political career,” Bandarigoda said.

The MP observed that it is questionable as to whether this punishment would be carried out in a just manner since the President who hopes to implement it is a member of a political party.

The Parliamentarian also referred to incidents in which innocent people had been hanged in history. "There are flaws in our judicial and prisons system. This must be rectified first," he emphasised.