Prisons Chief says no executions within next seven days

When questioned by Court, Prisons Commissioner General today assured the Appeal Court that no prisoner would be executed within the next seven days from today.

He gave this undertaking when the writ petition against the implementation of the death sentence was taken up by Court of Appeal Bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda (President) and Arjuna Obeyesekere.

On this basis Counsel for the petitioner moved to support the writ petition next week with Court fixing the date for support on Tuesday. 

Petitioner Malinda Seneviratne, a senior journalist, cited the Commissioner General of Prisons, Welikada Prisons Superintendent, Welikada Prison Executioner and the Attorney General as respondents. (S.S. Selvanayagam)