Mixed reactions to death penalty

Pulse of the People by Ananda Kannangara

The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of the public on the death penalty given to four Sri Lankan workers by beheading them in Saudi Arabia. Here are their views.

A Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Thushara Cooray welcomed the Saudi Arabian law for executing the death penalty on criminals and said that it must be reintroduced in Sri Lanka too.

"It is pathetic that in our country the death penalty is not carried out and the criminals are given only the life sentence," he said.

A Pradeshiya Sabha Member Nandasena Amarasinghe said that the Saudi Arabian Government took the correct decision.

"This is a good lesson for all expatriate workers and I am sure no one will indulge in such unlawful acts in future." he said.

Ranjith Serasinghe of Battaramulla called upon the Sri Lankan Government also to impose the death penalty like in Saudi Arabia. If so the crime rate will come down in Sri Lanka.

A public sector executive Padmini Fonseka said that although the death penalty in our country exists, due to various reasons it has been abolished.

"However I appeal to the authorities to re-activate it even at this juncture for the sake of the younger generation," she said.

M. H. Somapala of Talangama welcomed the decision taken by the Saudi Arabian Government to execute the death penalty and said it must be reactivated in our country too.

"The death penalty should be given not only for murderers but for others including robbers, kidnappers and drug traffickers," he said.

The owner of a watch company at Battaramulla Thurika Egodawatta welcomed the decision taken by the Saudi Government and advocated that the Lankan Government also reactivates the death penalty.

"If not we will have to expect more unlawful activities in the future," he said. A 45-year-old businessman, A. W. Piyasena said: "We and our families live in danger from criminals without any protection. Therefore I appeal to the authorities to implement the death sentences like in Saudi Arabia".

"This is the only way to reduce the crime rate," he said.

A vegetable seller, P. P. Danaseeli commended the Saudi Arabian Government for the death penalty on criminals and said that the death sentence must be implemented in our country too.

"Don't think that Buddhist countries like us should refrain from implementing such death sentences. If a few persons are given such death sentences in public, there will be no major criminal activities in our country," she said.

A banker in the mercantile sector, Gamini Karunanayaka said that he was surprised to hear that a certain Minister wanted the four bodies of the beheaded Sri Lankans to be brought to Sri Lanka and also to pay compensation to the families here.

"Actually this will become a joke if convicted criminals are paid compensation. Therefore, I call upon the particular Minister not to help criminals by granting compensation," he said.

A School teacher from Jaffna, Shanthi Selladurai said that she was not against the killing of convicted criminals in Saudi Arabia.

"We know how much we suffer when we become victims of criminal activities, therefore I appeal to the Government to impose the maximum death sentence on all criminals including those in the prison who have already been given the death penalty," she said.

Kosala Seneviratne of Hendala, Wattala said "I am a strong Buddhist and I highly respect the five precepts, especially the first one" "However, I request the authorities to give the death penalty for all criminals in our country, like in Saudi Arabia, they must be given the sentence in public and not in secret," he said.

A 21-year-old University student Kumarage Saman Kumara said "As the death penalty is not carried out in our country, everyday we hear about killings, abductions, rape cases and house burglaries. "If the death penalty is reimplemented, the crime rate will definitely go down." he said.

A mother of three, Sumana Weerasekara of Koswatta, Talangama said she lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with her husband for six years. "There we hardly heard about murders or any other illegal activities due to the strict laws. During our stay only four were killed for committing illegal acts," she said. She also said that three expatriates were sentenced to death by stoning and caning in public.

"Therefore, I think if sentences of this nature are given in our country, our crime rate will go down," she said.

Nimalasiri Peris of Hokandara said, "Although we talk about this, the ultimate decision must be taken by top level people, especially politicians," "If the death sentence is imposed, thousands of their henchmen will be the first victims, therefore the authorities will never introduce the death penalty here," he said. Saman Palliyaguru of Wattala said "Ours is a Buddhist country, Therefore I appeal to the authorities not to impose the death sentence," "Better give the criminals a life imprisonment," he added.

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