President Maithripala Sirisena says he will sign to implement the death sentences on criminals convicted of drug related offences, who are still involved in drug trafficking in the country from within prisons.

He said that from their experiences in the past couple of years they know that a vast majority of Sri Lanka’s drug racketeers especially those who engage in trafficking heroin and ecstasy pills, continue to operate drug networks even after they caught and punished by the court of law. 

There are inmates in prisons who have been sentenced to death after being found guilty due to drugs such as cocaine, hashish, marijuana. Those who have been sentenced to death are trafficking and distributing drugs in the country while in prison, he said. 

The President stated that therefore he proposed to the Cabinet of Minister yesterday to implement the death penalty such individuals and that last evening he requested the Justice Ministry to take necessary steps. 

“There could be a lot of debate over it as a Buddhist. But the President has to sign to implement the death penalty on those who have been sentenced to death,” he said speaking during an event in Getambe today (11). 

The President said that he believe that he will not be committing a sin and that he will do it for the entire society, the country and on behalf of the future generations. 

“I will use my signature to execute the death penalty on those who have been sentenced to death because of drugs are engaged in large scale drug rackets even after being sentenced to death.” 

He stated that it is clear there is no other option and that the punishment is insufficient. 

Although there are certain opinions regarding capital punishment in a Buddhist society, if large number of criminal acts spread in such a society despite religious sermons, it will be necessary to take some timely actions to control crime, he said.

The President made this statement at the opening of the ‘Schools to Boost Fight Against Drugs’ campaign at Gatambe Grounds in Kandy today (July 11). This programme has been organized by the National Drugs Eradication Campaign and the Presidential Task Force Against Drugs with the intention of saving school children from the menace of drugs.

President Sirisena said that although the opponents level undue criticism, the number of crimes and rapes has dropped during the last three years. He pointed out that the report on crime in the last 10 years presented to the National Security Council yesterday, has revealed that false propaganda about an increase of crime rates after this government came to power was carried out by the opponents with political agendas.

However, pointing out that some social websites and use of illegal drugs have caused an increase in murders and rapes, the President said that it is the responsibility of the government as well as the parents to give priority to save children from these evils.

President Sirisena pointed out that the children should be made aware of the dangers of drugs and make them the messengers of creating a drug and alcohol free society.