President ready to implement capital punishment

Colombo (News1st) :   Co-cabinet Spokesperson Minister (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne announced today that the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to implement capital punishment against those who have been sentenced to death on drug-related offenses. President Maithripala Sirisena attending an event today stated that he is prepared to sign off on the implementation of capital punishment. He noted that the experienced they had gathered over the past few years has shown them that drug racketeers who are convicted and sent to prison continue their operations while in prison. The head of state noted that because of this, he had introduced a proposal to cabinet to implement capital punishment against individuals who have been sentenced to death in connection to drug-related offenses. He noted that it is the President who has to sign off on the implementation of capital punishment and that he has called on the Ministry of Justice to provide a list of names of individuals who have been sentenced to death but continue to be involved in the drug trade.