(UTV|COLOMBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday (30) he and his United National Party (UNP) are opposed to the capital punishment, as President Maithripala Sirisena attempts to end a 43-year moratorium on death penalty to start executing drug convicts.
The President said on Wednesday (26) he was committed to bringing back capital punishment for drug offenders, months after vowing a tougher line on spiralling narcotics-related crime.
This was despite Sri Lanka having become a party to the United Nations (UN) moratorium on death penalty and voting in favour of the moratorium just 6-months back.
The international condemnation of decision to resume capital punishment has been coming since the President made his announcement.
“I have discussed it with at least 4 parties in Parliament and all of them are opposed to the capital punishment. I and my party are also opposed to it,” the Prime Minister added.
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