Death Penalty: UN, EU and many countries urge Lanka to maintain moratorium

Foreign countries and international organisations have expressed concern to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over proposed plans to re-implement the death penalty in Sri Lanka and called for a review of the decision.

A Prime Minister’s Office source said the United Nations, the European Union and Colombo-based diplomats have either met or called Mr Wickremesinghe expressing concern over the announcement by President Maithripala Sirisena that four execution orders had already been signed.

The Prime Minister is due to make a special statement during Parliament’s first sitting week in July outlining the long-term diplomatic and economic impact on the country if it went ahead with ending a 43-year moratorium on the death penalty.

The EU has pointed out that the move to resume executions directly contradicts the commitment made by Sri Lanka at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in December last year to maintain the moratorium on the death penalty. It has warned Sri Lanka that it risks losing the lucrative GSP+ facility if it goes ahead. Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Canada and Turkey have also expressed serious concern.

The business leaders have raised concerns with the Government. They have warned that the decision to end the moratorium may even lead to a boycott campaign against Sri Lanka. This could have a devastating impact on tourism and also lead to an economic crisis.

The UN also has appealed to President Sirisena to maintain the moratorium on the death penalty.

"The death penalty is a cruel punishment and does little to serve victims or deter future crimes. Echoing Secretary General Antonio Guterres and many member states, we continue to advocate for the universal abolishment of capital punishment," the UN's Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer said.