President must immediately halt his plans to execute four prisoners; Amnesty

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena must immediately halt his plans to execute four prisoners, Amnesty International said today.

In a statement issued today, Amnesty International said that it is shocked by President Sirisena’s announcement that he has signed the execution warrants of four death row prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes, and that they will be hanged in “the near future.”

While the President has confirmed signing the death warrants, no names have been revealed and no details have been shared about any scheduled executions or information on the cases. The lack of transparency makes it impossible to ascertain whether these prisoners have exhausted clemency appeals or if all safeguards were followed in their conviction or sentencing. There is also no confirmation that the four prisoners, or their families, have been alerted to their imminent execution. The executions would be the first time Sri Lanka has implemented the death penalty since 1976.

“We are outraged that the President has signed the first execution warrants issued by Sri Lanka in 43 years. In one stroke, he will undo all the country’s progress in putting a stop to the use of the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia Director at Amnesty International. 

Earlier, Amnesty International had learned that there are 13 prisoners who are at grave risk of imminent execution. It is unclear if their execution warrants have also been issued and signed or that they will be in the future.

Executions for drug-related offences are unlawful. They do not meet the threshold for “most serious crimes” - i.e. intentional killing - to which the use of the death penalty must be restricted under international human rights law and standards.

“At a time when other countries have come to the realization that their drug control policies are in need of reform, and are taking steps to reduce the use of the death penalty, Sri Lanka is bucking the trend. This will be devastating to the country’s international reputation and we hope that President Sirisena will reconsider his decision,” said Biraj Patnaik.