Amnesty condemns Sri Lanka

The international human rights group, Amnesty International, has expressed concern that Sri Lanka may lift a twenty-four year ban on carrying out the death penalty.

Following a cabinet decision in the wake of rising crime, the government took the decision not to automatically turn death sentences into life imprisonment.

In a letter to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Amnesty said the resumption of executions would be a major step backwards for human rights in the country.

The organisation urged the Sri Lankan government to uphold what it called the most basic human right - the right to life, and not to resume executions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service