The Supreme Court today (09) ordered to further extend till March 20 the interim order preventing the decision by former President Maithripala Sirisena to carry out the death sentence on four accused found guilty of narcotic drugs related offences and sentenced to death.
The fundamental rights petition filed against the former President’s decision was taken up today before a bench comprising justices Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairaja and Gamini Amarasekera.
The bench ordered that all the petitions filed regarding this case be considered from March 17 - 19.
Accordingly, the interim order preventing the President’s decision to carry out the death sentences will be extended till March 20.
Furthermore, since there have been changes in the individuals named as respondents in the particular petitions, the Supreme Court ordered the petitioners to revise the same and submit them to courts before the next date.
Petitioners state that while making a statement on World Drugs Day last May, the then President Maithripala Sirisena had said that he had placed his signature to carry out the death sentences on four accused found guilty of drug related offences and sentenced to death.
Thus carrying out the death sentences only on a selected group of prisoners violate their fundamental rights to receive equanimity before the law, pointed out the petitioners.
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