News
Ranil drops MS decision to resume hanging
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, through Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, has informed the Supreme Court that judicial executions would not be resumed.
Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, who appeared for the Attorney General, stated the President’s position, when several fundamental rights petitions filed, calling for the annulment of the decision taken by former President Maithripala Sirisena, in 2019, to execute four defendants sentenced to death on drug charges, were called.
The petition was called before a three-member Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Vijith Malalgoda, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Murdhu Fernando.
When the Attorney General inquired about this yesterday, President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed that he would not use his signature to execute the death sentence.
The President asked the AG to inform the Court of his decision. Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, who represented the Attorney General, stated before the court that the government had taken a policy decision not to implement the death penalty.
Chairman of the bench, Justice Vijith Malalgoda asked the petitioners’ lawyers to inform the court on the next court date if there was any need to continue the petition.
The bench decided to recall the petitions on 23 February 2023.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena made a statement on 26 June 2019 that he had decided to sign an execution order in respect of four prisoners sentenced to death for drug-related offences.
Several parties including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Center for Policy Alternatives and the Organization for the Protection of Prisoners presented these fundamental rights petitions to the Supreme Court against the ex-President’s decision.
The petitions have alleged that the then president’s decision was against the country’s public policy and human rights.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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