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 Bring back capital punishment and the whip

When was it that the West claimed that they were civilised, It was only a few hundred years ago, but even after the time of Jesus, the Greeks and the Romans who crucified Christ; what have we seen? In recent years their record is shameful - let us just recall the two world wars and the wars of the 19th and 20th Centuries.

In Sri Lanka we are going through traumatic times. The recent gruesome rape and murder of young Vithiya has indeed shocked our nation. This horrible crime MUST be avenged for its own sake and also for the security of our people. Those responsible have no right to live till the end of their days eating and living at our expense in prison serving life terms; believe me - I was the Chairman of a Prison inspection committee. These despicable scoundrels who have been sentenced to death for murder but not hanged lead a good life inside - a life, they have no right to live, having, taken the life or lives of others.

It was not so long ago that the president's brother was hacked to death . Not a day passes when we do not read of some horrendous murder or of a child being molested or a woman being raped and murdered and of horrific murders at times of whole families (the murder of the Harmer family of Dehiwela by contract killers some years ago is just one such instance; the convicted killers are living in jail being fed, clothed and maintained at our expense.).

The man convicted of being a party to the murder of Neelan Tiruchelvam when asked by me, when he was an inmate of the Kalutara prison as to whether he regretted he was a party to the murder of a great man, laughed, saying he had no regret.We continue to allow him to live and spend our money for him to live!! Are we not ashamed that such things are happening and that the situation is getting worse by the day?

Why is it that Singapore and Malaysia do not face this unfortunate situation? Both countries have retained the death penalty and have punishments to fit the crime. The death penalty is indeed a deterrent. Both countries are also free of the drug menace which has ruined our society with some political leaders being drug barons and acting with impunity.

When a court of law imposes the death penalty and after the appeals are over, the final order to carry out the sentence must NOT be passed on to the President. The Supreme Court (a bench of three Justices) should order the execution and set the date and time for it; a citizens group could ensure that the Supreme Court order is carried out. If hanging is considered gruesome let us introduce the Syringe which is the practice in many States of the US and in some other countries. Those who have taken the lives of others MUST pay with their lives. Today killing a human being is given out to contract killers - we must put an end to this horrific practice and there is only one way of doing this - hang the killers.

As for child molesters and rapists, public lashing is the only appropriate punishment and our Judiciary should have no compunction in ordering such a punishment

Let the EU threaten Malaysia and Singapore with sanctions, that would raise a laugh.

K. Godage, via email