A prisoners rights group will hand over a petition against the death penalty to President Maithripala Sirisena today (Jul 3), in the backdrop of growing opposition against the punishment.
"The President can't hang whomever he wants. This is a civilised country," Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Secretary Sudesh Nandimal Silva told Times Online.
Silva pointed out that a majority of the public have opposed this ad hoc decision taken by the President.
The CPRP will engage in a protest opposite the Fort Railway Station at 3 pm today and would then proceed towards the Presidential Secretariat in order to handover the petition.
Last week, the President had announced that he had signed the death penalty for four inmates. The ruling party, opposition, and several non-governmental organisations have raised stiff opposition against this decision since then.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
In its first electoral test since taking power, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fell short of expectations, winning only around 40 % of the national vote in Tuesday’s local government election and falling short of enough seats to gain control of the majority of councils.
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