A private member’s motion to abolish death penalty was presented to Parliament by Galle District UNP MP Bandulal Bandarigoda yesterday. It seeks to amend the laws to abolish the death sentence in the backdrop of a decision to reinstate the capital punishment.
The motion was presented by UNP Galle District MP Bandulal Bandarigoda after Parliament Standing Orders 52 and 53 had been suspended by another motion by Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella.
Minister Kiriella’s motion said, “I move that Standing Orders 52 and 53 of the Parliament be suspended to enable publication in Government Gazzette today the Private Member’s Bill presented to Parliament for “Abolition of Death Penalty” for the purpose of repealing a reference made to the imposition of Capital Punishment under any Act or law.”
The proposed Bill of the MP states “the reference in any law to the imposition of the death penalty or punishment by death, shall, from and after the coming into force of this Act, be construed as punishment by imprisonment for life.
The Transitional Provisions 3 (a) of the Act says “any person in respect of whom a sentence of death has been imposed prior to the coming into force of this Act, shall be deemed to be a person sentenced to imprisonment for life in respect of such offence.” Transitional Provisions (b) has proposed “ any person who has committed, prior to the coming into force of this Act, an offence punishable with death, but in respect of whom a sentence of punishment has not yet been imposed by court, shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable with imprisonment for life.”
Meanwhile, Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva in his official twitter page pointed out, “Once its gazzetted anyone can challenge it in Courts. If so once we get it cleared from Courts, we can debate in Parliament and if a majority supports, make it law.”
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