Drug-related convicts - Talatha hands over list to Cabinet

23 January 2019 06:16 am Views - 5390

A day after President Maithripala Sirisena complained that case files of drug convicts on death row were missing, Justice Minister Talatha Athukorale handed over to the Cabinet a list of 18 such prisoners facing capital punishment.

The President is reported to have said this at a function in Mulaitivu where he had also announced that capital punishment would be implemented.

The justice minister did so when Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen drew the attention of the Cabinet to the statement made by the President.

Sri Lanka has stopped carrying out the death sentence since 1976. However, the President had announced last year that he would sign the documents necessary to carry out the death sentence for those convicted of drug-related offences. The President had also said the convicts found guilty of coordinating drug trafficking from their prison cells would be hanged first and sought a report on such convicted criminals. (Kelum Bandara)