COLOMBO, June 26 -- Amnesty International has asked Sri Lanka to abandon plans to introduce death penalty for drug-trafficking after the islands authorities decided to hire and train executioners.
"Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena must immediately halt his plans to resume execution of at least 13 prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes," Amnesty International said in a statement.
According to local media, executions could start during national drug eradication week (June 22-July 1).
Amnesty's South Asia Director Biraj Patnaik said, "The last thing that Sri Lanka needs right now is more death in the name of vengeance."
The death penalty remains in force in Sri Lanka for crimes, including treason, murder and drug-trafficking,...