President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena

SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 83 INMATES

April 25, 2016: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to commute the death sentences of 83 prisoners in death row to life sentences.
President Sirisena has taken the decision to spare the lives of the prisoners based on the recommendations made by a Committee appointed following a request by the joint committee of the Ministries of Law and Order and Prisons Reforms and Justice to review the death sentences.
The Commissioner General of Prisons Nishan Danasinghe said they expect more death row inmates to receive the same concession in future.
Although Sri Lankan courts give death penalty in serious crimes such as murder, rape and drug trafficking, no executions have been carried out since 1976.
Sri Lanka last year decided to vote in favor of a UN resolution for moratorium on death penalty. (Sources: ColomboPage News Desk, 25/04/2016)