Sri Lankan President reiterates decision to impose death penalty on drug traffickers
Posted on January 23rd, 2019
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, Jan 23 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated his government’s decision to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers including those who are already facing the death sentence in prisons, a statement from his office said here Wednesday.
President Sirisena said that although certain organizations had raised their voices against the severe decisions taken against drug dealers, these organizations had failed to assess the damage and trauma caused to the nation if drug traffickers were left to continue their illegal activities.
He said he would soon release information to the country on the drug dealers and the parties behind them in order to shed light on those responsible behind this issue.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had taken a collective decision in July last year, to impose the death sentence considering the recent rise in drug related murders and a large amount of drug imports planned by drug traffickers who were already in prison custody.
The government had said the island country had become a transit point for major drug cartels as a consequence of the prolonged illicit activities of the Tamil Tiger rebels who were militarily defeated by government troops in May 2009 following a 30 year civil conflict.
On Tuesday, the Police Special Task Force and Anti Narcotics Unit busted an international drug smuggling ring in capital Colombo, arresting five suspects along with 90 kilograms of heroin.
Those arrested included two Americans and an Afghan national.
The consignment of heroin was valued at Rs.1.1 billion, an estimated 6 million US dollars.