President Maithripala Sirisena says that in an over-the-phone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last night he explained the reasons for implementing the death sentence in Sri Lanka.

President Maithripala Sirisena says that in an over-the-phone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last night he explained the reasons for implementing the death sentence in Sri Lanka.

President Maithripala Sirisena says to protect the future of the country as well as the future generation, the death penalty should be enforced against the drug traffickers while preventing the illegal drug trade that spread day by day destroying lives of thousands of young people including the school students and university students.

President Sirisena said that he has ordered the execution of four drug offenders and he further said that all who against that decision are supporting the illegal drug trade.

The President made these remarks addressing a ceremony held at the Vijitha Maha Vidyalaya, Lankapura, Polonnaruwa, today (28).

The President expressing his ideas further said that he has signed the document to execute the drug offenders not with hatred and cruelty towards anyone, but to save the nation and the future generation from this worst social catastrophe.

President Sirisena said that therefore, no one should attempt to reverse this process and said that he has apprised the Secretary General of the UN in this regard while engaging in a telephone conversation with him last night.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that the fight against illegal drug trafficking was not one that he started yesterday. Also, he said that this was a long-standing program that began to save the nation from the terrible social disaster. 

The President said that with the cooperation of all, the program is now on its way to a successful end.