Capital Punishment In Sri Lanka
Capital punishment is legal in Sri Lanka. However, since June 23, 1976, there have been no executions, although death sentences were handed down continuously by the High and Supreme Courts for murder and drug trafficking convictions. These were automatically commuted to life in prison. The government decided to reinstate capital punishment in 2004 for cases of rape, drug trafficking and murder after the assassination of High Court judge Sarath Ambepitiya. However due to significant opposition to the move no executions were carried out.
Read more about Capital Punishment In Sri Lanka: History, Present
Famous quotes containing the words capital punishment, capital and/or punishment:
“I should not regret a fair and full trial of the entire abolition of capital punishment.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“Capital as such is not evil; it is its wrong use that is evil. Capital in some form or other will always be needed.”
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948)
“What will be left of the power of example if it is proved that capital punishment has another power, and a very real one, which degrades men to the point of shame, madness, and murder?”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)