President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena

SRI LANKA: PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW TO GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT

February 7, 2016: Following a set of recommendations made by a committee appointed to look into the death sentence issued on several convicts, it has been decided to convert the death sentence imposed on 34 of those convicts into life imprisonment. President Maithripala Sirisena had taken the decision after considering the reports on the 34 convicts submitted by the committee which was appointed by the former President.
The committee has also finalized reports on another 60 convicts on death row and these reports will also be handed over to the President for his consideration, a committee member told The Sunday Leader.
Since the death sentence is not implemented in Sri Lanka an issue has arisen on the convicts who are on death row.
Human rights groups have urged the Sri Lankan government not to implement the death sentence despite pressure from some groups and individuals following a spate of gruesome murders in the country. (Sources: thesundayleader.lk, 07/02/2016)