Reactivate death penalty for major drug traffickers – Former HR Commissioner

Former Human Rights Commissioner Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa has recommended that the government consider introducing the death penalty or a comparable alternative, on a short-term basis for large-scale drug traffickers, Lankadeepa newspaper reported. Mahanamahewa cited international precedents where countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Vietnam and India have temporarily enforced the death penalty to curb serious drug-related crimes during peak periods of narcotics trade. He further warned of a potential legal gap following the government’s recent decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He noted that many organized criminals and drug traffickers currently detained under the…

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