The Government has not taken a decision to implement the death penalty, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday (24), addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing.

Dr. Jayatissa added that no discussion had been held at the Cabinet of Ministers level on enforcing capital punishment, including execution by hanging. He noted that the said matter requires broad public discourse and cannot be decided solely by the Cabinet. 

“This is a subject that requires a wide discussion. It is not something that a Cabinet can decide on its own,” he said. 

He added that before arriving at any decision, it is also necessary to examine whether crime rates have decreased or increased in countries where the death penalty is presently enforced, and to assess both the immediate and long-term impacts. Further, he said that the issue must be analysed from a sociological, psychological and criminological perspective before any Governmental policy decision is taken.