Hanging just 4, problematic!

The decision taken by the President to hand just four persons has proved to be problematic, it is reported.

The President revealed recently during the meeting with media heads that he had already signed the papers for the hanging of four persons.

However, it is questionable as to how only four were selected from among many who are on death row, questioned Presidents Counsel U.R. de Silva.

Expressing his views to ‘Neth’ news he said, “Based on 2018 statistics, 1299 are on death row, but after appeals only around 459 are sentenced to death. Among them are 5 females, and six foreigners. How did the President select four out of them?” he questioned.

He pointed out that while all have been given the same sentence, the President cannot select four according to his whims and fancy or based on any particular list.

Female at the top of the list

If only the drug offenders are to be sent to the gallows then there are 18 of them. Among them still alive, the list is headed by a female.

Shyamali Perera is a resident of Mattakkuliya and she was sentenced to death on March 01, 2011.

Are women exempted?

According to paragraph 54 of the Of the Criminal Procedure Code, so far no female has been given the death sentence.

The highest punishment given to women so far is life imprisonment. The first woman to be given the death sentence during the British rule is Fiji Dingiri Menika. As she was pregnant at the time, the death sentence was scheduled for two months after her delivery. However, considering the fact that she was nursing her infant Governor Edward Barnes had pardoned her. From then until 1976 no women was given the death sentence, according to prison records.

Next on the list of 18 is C. Dharmakaran, N.J.M. Isthar, P.G. Bolising, P.A. Boot, M. Kumar, M. Mashar. Next on the list are four Pakistani nationals.