UN Secretary General inquired about the Death Penalty in Sri Lanka - President

Colombo (News 1st): The three-storey building constructed at the Pulasthigama Vijitha central college was vested in the students today (June 28), under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena. Speaking at the event President Sirisena noted that he has ordered to implement the death penalty against four drug convicts. He added that a few days ago the general secretary of the United Nations spoke to him over the phone, regarding capital punishment. He said the UN official inquired regarding the drug menace in Sri Lanka. The president has told him that the drug menace in Sri Lanka is extreme, universities have been affected, and the country has become a drug distribution centre to other countries and 60% of those in the prisons are drug convicts. The head of state said Sri Lankan prisons can only accommodate 11,000, however, there are 24,000 prisoners at present, and of them, 15,000 are drug convicts. He noted that there are rehabilitation centres for drug addicts, however, even these rehabilitation centres are not adequate and this is why it was decided to impose capital punishment. President Sirisena said there are several countries across the globe that has capital punishment in place and USA President Donald Trump made an announcement recently that capital punishment should be imposed with immediate effect in all states, to eradicate drug trafficking and distribution. He pointed out that only a few states in the USA currently have capital punishment in place and capital punishment is currently in place in India, Singapore and China. The President stated that they cannot take the country forward without imposing such severe punishments. He went onto note that after the announcement was made stating that he had signed the death warrants for four drug convicts, several NGO's and social media websites spoke against it. He noted that they are all supporting drug convicts. President Maithripala Sirisena stressed that this decision was taken to protect the future generation.