EU wants SL to maintain moratorium on death penalty

The European Union (EU) called on the Sri Lankan Government to maintain its moratorium on the death penalty in line with its vote at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly held in December 2018. 

  The EU delegation issued the following statement in agreement with the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Norway and Switzerland as well as the high commissions of the UK, Canada and Australia. 

The Sri Lankan Government has recently taken measures to resume executions and bring an end to Sri Lanka’s 43-year moratorium on the death penalty as part of its stepped up anti-drug policy. 

While acknowledging that combatting the proliferation of drugs is a serious challenge for countries around the world, and that action to counter the illicit drug trade is important and necessary, the evidence does not support the argument that death penalty is an effective deterrent. 

We are ready to share our experiences in addressing the threat posed by drugs. More than two-thirds of countries around the world, with a variety of legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds, have either abolished the death penalty or do not practice it. 

Death penalty is an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. 

The Sri Lankan Government has recently taken measures to resume executions and bring an end to Sri Lanka’s 43-year moratorium on the death penalty as part of its stepped up anti-drug policy