Sri Lanka has recruited two hangmen as it prepares to carry out four executions – the first in 43 years.
It follows the president’s announcement that four prisoners convicted of drug offences are to face the death penalty.
The hanging will end a moratorium of capital punishment that has been in place since 1976.
Over 100 candidates applied for an advert posted in February for executioners with “strong moral character”. They needed to be Sri Lankan, male, aged 18-45 and possess “mental strength”.
State-owned media Daily News said two Americans and two women had also applied.
A prisons spokesman said the two successful candidates needed to go through final training which would take about two weeks. The last hangman resigned five years ago after seeing the gallows and going into shock.
Another was hired last year but did not show up to work.
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