Thirteen inmates definitely in line for the death penalty

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms claims that the death penalty will definitely be carried out on 13 inmates who are on death row and convicted of drug-related offences. A senior official of the Ministry noted that of the total 17 inmates who are on death row that 4 are foreign nationals. Thereby the death penalty can only be carried out definitely on the rest of the inmates. This matter has been notified to the Presidential Secretariat as well. The four foreign inmates on death row in Sri Lanka are Pakistani nationals and it is reported that the Pakistan government had made several requests for the release of these inmates. The senior official further claimed that a total of 48 persons convicted of drug-related offences are currently on death row, however, 30 of them have filed appeals against their verdicts and thus death penalty cannot be imposed on them as of yet. The list comprising the names of the 17 individuals, whom the death penalty can be imposed upon was handed over to the President recently with the recommendation of the Attorney General. All inmates on this list are said to be below the age of 50.

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