Executions not the answer to tackle drug menace

There have been mixed reactions to the news that Sri Lanka will again carry out executions of those sentenced to death, in particular situations / circumstances.

Are we serious when we say this?

We have not removed this punishment from our statute books, but for very good reasons we have not carried out this punishment now for many years. We are in that group of civilized nations which do not take the life of any of its citizens as a punishment. Are we now considering going back to those days when we took the lives of those sentenced to death?

We boast of being a country where all the major religions of the world are practised. What right do we have to take the life of one of our own citizens, however grave the crime. Such action is against the teachings of all our religions. These individuals will ultimately pay for these crimes, in hell or in their next birth, but we have no right to take their lives.

There was a report that the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, had also commended the decision of President Sirisena to execute drug dealers sentenced to death. I hope our President will not take too much notice of the commendations of the President of the Philippines.

When the decision was taken many years ago not to execute those sentenced to death, the decision was based on the fact that nowhere in the world had murders reduced by punishing those committing such crimes, with execution. While some may maintain that such convicts deserve death, there have been instances when innocents have also been executed. Such miscarriage of justice can never be redressed. These facts, were among those that led to the decision not to carry out the death penalty.

The discussion today, is largely centred around those sentenced to death for drug offences. The same reasons for not executing those convicted of such offences, I believe still hold. Will executions reduce these crimes? Aren’t there possibilities of innocents being executed on fabricated evidence? If we take our religions seriously can we carry out executions?

We need to clean up the Prisons Department, for without the collaboration and assistance of senior Prisons Department officials, these convicted drug offenders cannot continue their criminal activities. Are not the police responsible for bringing the ‘small fry’ in this trade to justice, while the big time traders, among whom are indeed many politicians, remain free? Should the government not put these right? A major clean up is necessary.

Eksith Fernando Dehiwela