The government has not taken a decision to implement the death penalty, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Jayatissa said no discussion has been held at Cabinet level on enforcing capital punishment, including execution by hanging.
He said the matter requires broad public discourse and cannot be decided solely by the Cabinet.
“This is a subject that requires wide discussion. It is not something that a Cabinet can decide on its own,” he said.
The minister noted that before arriving at any decision, it is necessary to examine whether crime rates have decreased or increased in countries where the death penalty is enforced, as well as to assess both the immediate and long-term impacts.
He said the issue must be analysed from sociological, psychological and criminological perspectives before any government takes a policy decision.
Jayatissa reiterated that the government has not discussed or taken any decision regarding the implementation of the death penalty. (Newswire)