The United Kingdom and European Union this week reiterated their opposition to Sri Lanka's proposed implementation of the death penalty.
“The Sri Lankan Government is well aware of the UK and EU position on the death penalty and we hope the moratorium will be sustained,” the UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field said in parliament when asked by an MP regarding what action had been taken on the issue.
“Earlier, the British High Commission in Colombo joined the EU delegation in lobbying the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Ministry to maintain this position in the December 2018 UN vote, supporting a moratorium on the use of the death penalty."
"In January 2019, after further reporting of the intention to restart the death penalty, our High Commission raised the issue with senior officials in the Sri Lankan Government," he added.
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Meanwhile at the 22nd Joint Commission between the EU and Sri Lanka held in Brussels today, the EU also reiterated its opposition to the proposed implementation of the death penalty.
EU officials urged Sri Lanka to maintain the moratorium on executions and work towards abolition.
Sri Lanka's president has repeatedly pledged to implement the death penalty for those convicted of drug trafficking, in view of attempting to emulate the Philippines on its notorious anti-drugs action.
The government this week published an advert for two hangmen in state-run Daily News, offering a wage at 36,310 rupees for the job.
