News
SC extends stay order on ex-President Sirisena’s decision to hang death row drug lords
By Chitra Weerarathne
The Supreme Court yesterday extended, till September 7, the stay order on the decision by former President Maithripala Sirisena to implement the death penalty on four convicted drug barons.
In 2019, former President Sirisena announced that the death penalty should be imposed against four convicted drug dealers who were operating from within prisons to tackle the increasing drug related issues in Sri Lanka.
Several public interest litigants filed cases saying that the imposition of the death penalty is in violation of the right to life of the citizens. It is the most basic right, the petitioners have complained.
M. A. Sumanthiran, PC appeared with Sanjeewa Jayawardena, PC for the public interest civil rights activists who challenged the decision of retired President Sirisena.
The Supreme Court bench comprised Justice Vijith K. Malalgoda, Justice S. Thurairajah, Justice Murdhu Fernando and Justice Gamini Amerasekera.
The petition will be called before the Court again on September 6.
