Capital punishment again becomes an issue in Sri Lanka

Nov 27, Colombo: Capital punishment, accepted by the judiciary system of Sri Lanka, although remains inactive has again begun haunting in the human rights circles.

Scotland Yard Police has sought a clause that guarantees the culprits might not be sentenced to death to be added to the MOU that is to be signed with the Sri Lanka government prior to sending their detectives to assist in the murder investigation of Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj.

As a policy British government does not approve death penalty and the Scotland Yard’s demand is in accordance with that policy.

It is reported that Sri Lanka government is reluctant to agree to include the clause. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga vowed to invoke provisions in the law to make the death penalty mandatory after the assassination of High Court Justice Sarath Ambepitiya by some underworld elements.

Executive Secretary of the Movement for Defence of Democratic Rights (MDDR), a leading human rights organization of Sri Lanka said that although investigating the killing of the TNA parliamentarian and bringing the culprits into books judicially is essential, capital punishment cannot be approved on any reason.

Sri Lanka's human rights activists are continuously struggling against the capital punishment although the general public and also the Buddhist leaders urge the government to invoke the provisions in the law to make the death penalty mandatory