The Delegation of the European Union (EU) issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Missions, the High Commissioner of Canada, and the Ambassador of Norway resident in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Delegation of the European Union, the missions of the EU Member States in Sri Lanka as well as the diplomatic missions of the Governments of Canada and Norway in Sri Lanka have written to H.E. President Maithripala Sirisena to verify the worrying information in the public domain about the intention of the Sri Lankan government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years.
The mentioned diplomatic missions have made known in their letter that they strongly and unequivocally oppose capital punishment in all circumstances and in all cases. The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity, does not have any proven deterrent effect, and allows judicial errors to become fatal and irreversible.
The diplomatic missions have requested the President to maintain the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty and to uphold Sri Lanka’s tradition of opposition to capital punishment.
Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka
British High Commission in Sri Lanka
Embassy of France in Sri Lanka
Embassy of Germany in Sri Lanka
Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka
Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka
Embassy of Romania in Sri Lanka
High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka