The European Union(EU) called for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide and welcomed Sri Lankan Justice Minister’s announcement that his government would vote in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the Death Penalty.
The EU statement comes as Sri Lanka’s parliament debated the reinstatement of capital punishment and as the government prepares to interview for a new hangman next week.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha said this week that the Foreign Minister told the UN Human Rights Council last month that Sri Lanka would not implement capital punishment. Mr Rajapaksha, who is also minister of the Buddha Sasana, said that the matter had to be considered carefully, and would not be implemented this year as Sri Lanka voted in favour of a UN resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty.
“The death penalty is a cruel and ineffective punishment,” said the EU. “Many death sentences are issued after confessions obtained by torture. Innocent people die and a person more likely to be sentenced to death if they are poor or belong to an ethnic or religious minority.”
“Hundred and one countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Make your voice heard for Sri Lanka to be part of the solution – not part of the problem. Tweet #NoDeathPenalty,” EU added.
See our earlier post: Sri Lankan parliament debates implementation of death penalty (07 Oct 2015)
