France is deeply concerned over the announcement of Sri Lankan authorities’ intention to execute persons sentenced to death and urges them to maintain the moratorium on death penalty, a statement from the French embassy said.
The Sri Lankan authorities announced their intention to execute persons sentenced to death which would end the moratorium on the use of death penalty observed by Sri Lanka for 43 years.
The statement said: “A resumption of executions would be inconsistent with the recent commitments made by Sri Lanka, which voted in support of the resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of death penalty during the UN General Assembly session just six months ago, with the Justice Minister taking part in the 7th World Congress Against Death Penalty in Brussels in February. France reaffirms its opposition to death penalty everywhere and under all circumstances and encourages Sri Lanka to join the countries that have permanently abolished this inhumane, unjust and ineffective punishment.”
