UNP opposes the death penalty; calls it an uncivilised move

The United National Party (UNP) has expressed opposition against the move to implement the death penalty adding that it was not a sign of a civilised country.

Issuing a press release, the ruling party noted that neither the UNP nor the United National Front (UNF) would endorse the implementation of the punishment.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who has been a staunch critic of the death penalty even before his entry into mainstream politics, reiterated that the UNP is against the resumption of the death penalty at a press briefing held yesterday. For Minister Samaraweera, the issue is also a matter of political legacy. In 1956, it was his father Mahanama Samaraweera who moved draft legislation to suspend the death penalty, soon after SLFP Founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s coalition Government was elected to office.

The UNP said it would uphold former party leader and first Sri Lankan Executive President J.R. Jayawardena's decision to abolish the death penalty on a matter of principle.

“The death sentence was abolished by late President J. R. Jayewardene and it was continued by late President R. Premadasa and D. B. Wijetunge. Even President Chandrika Kumaratunga continued this policy,” the party said.

The release proceeded to note that the 'good governance' government had taken a decision to ban the death penalty and had even voted in favour of a moratorium against it at the UN recently.