25 January 2019 :

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated the government's decision to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers, a government statement said on 23 January 2019.
Sirisena said although certain organizations had raised their voices against the government's decision, these organizations had failed to assess the damage and trauma caused to the nation if drug traffickers were left to continue the illegal activities.
He said he would soon release information to the drug dealers and the parties behind them.
Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers had taken a collective decision in July last year, to impose the death sentence considering the recent rise in drug-related murders and a large number of drug imports planned by drug traffickers who have been jailed.