Failure to submit documents of death row inmates: Prez to launch probe

10 December 2018 05:23 pm

President Maithripala Sirisena today said an investigation will be launched to look into the failures of several institutions to submit relevant documents relating to those will be facing death penalty should be implemented.

He said this failure has delayed the decision to implement the death penalty. The President made these remarks during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat today to discuss about instituting necessary changes to the laws to control drug trafficking and minimizing criminal activities.

He said necessary steps should be instantly taken to implement the decision to enforce death penalty against the convicts who are still engaged in drug trafficking in spite of being sentenced to death.

“No one should weaken the laws to suppress drug trafficking. It is important to enforce laws without having any loopholes that allow the smugglers to escape,” he said.

Attorney General Jayantha Jayasooriya, Secretary to the President Udaya R. Senevirathne, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando, Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, Commissioner General of Excise Department and secretaries of ministries were present in this event.