Department of Prisons has 458 inmates on death row

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka currently has 458 inmates on death row according to the Department of Prisons. The Department noted that a total of 1178 inmates have received death sentences adding that 720 of them have appealed against their sentences. 30 of them have been convicted of drug-related offenses. Out of the 30 convicts who received capital punishment, 18 convicts are on death row while 12 convicts have appealed against capital punishment. A woman and four Pakistani nationals are among the 18 convicts who are to receive capital punishment. President Maithripala Sirisena stated yesterday that he had signed the decree to hang four convicts related to drug offenses within the next two weeks. Sources in the Prisons Department stated that two individuals have been recruited as the executioners.