President explains death penalty decision to UN Secy Gen.

President explains death penalty decision to UN Secy Gen.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday disclosed that he had spoken with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres over the telephone on Thursday night and explained the reasons for implementing the death sentence in Sri Lanka.Speaking at a ceremony at Lankapura Vijitha Maha Vidyalaya in Polonnaruwa yesterday, the President stressed that nobody should try to reverse his decision to execute the death penalty.Observing that he had signed the death warrants on four convicted drug traffickers, the President said that his intention was to save the nation and future generations from a grave social plague. He stressed that anybody who speaks against his decision to implement the death penalty supports the illicit drug business.