International community speaks up against death penalty 

• EU warns it may give the wrong idea to investors 
• Canada says it can lead to irreversible miscarriages of justice 
• Swiss embassy highlights the inhuman nature of the punishment 
• Amnesty International Secy. Gen. says death sentence “not a show of strength” but “weakness”

The international community yesterday urged President Maithripala Sirisena to reconsider the stance taken on abandoning the long-standing moratorium on the death penalty in Sri Lanka. 

The European Union yesterday raised concerns over moves taken to resume executions 43 years later, noting that, “Such a move would directly contradict Sri Lanka’s commitment taken at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in December 2018 to maintain the moratorium.”

Further EU also notes the move will have a negative impact on the country’s economic ties as it will “send a wrong signal to the international community, investors and partners of the country.”

“The European Union will continue to monitor Sri Lanka’s effective implementation of the 27 international conventions relating to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) commitment, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” the statement noted. 

Highlighting the inhuman and degrading nature of the punishment, the EU also pointed out that studies show that the death penalty fails to act as a deterrent to crime although Sri Lankan authorities have cited the need to address drug-related offences. 

Canadian High Commission in Sri Lanka also noted the lack of evidence to establish death penalty as a deterrent. In a statement, the Canadian High Commission too spoke against President Sirisena’s decision stressing that the punishment “can lead to irreversible miscarriages of justice.”

“No justice system is immune from error,” the statement said. 

“Further, the resumption of executions could attract global attention and would do little to rebuild Sri Lanka’s image as a peaceful and welcoming destination for travellers and investment.”

Swiss Ambassador Hanspeter Mock, tweeted against the decision quoting Amnesty International video statement released on Wednesday, speaking against Sirisena’s plans to resume executions. 

@SwissAmbLKA, said, “months ago [Sri Lanka] officially confirmed at the [United Nation] its commitment to maintain the moratorium on #DeathPenalty. See @amnesty urgent appeal to @MaithripalaS not to reintroduce it: “Executions are not a show of strength, they are an admission of weakness” 

Amnesty International Secretary General Kumi Naidoo, in a video statement released via his official twitter account, called on Sirisena to abandon plans to resume executions, saying it “represents the failure to create a society that chooses human life instead of vengeance.”

Billionaire Richard Branson too spoke against the decision taken by the President via twitter, urging Sirisena to reconsider. 

“Sri Lanka turning back the clock on human rights by resuming executions. Disappointing news from a beautiful country. Sign Amnesty’s petition to speak out against the death penalty: https://www.amnesty.org/en/get-involved/take-action/death-penalty-sri-lanka/ … #LKA #LifeNotDeath” the tweet said.