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Hangman's noose awaits President's orders
The Prisons Department is making preparations to go ahead with President Chandrika Kumaratunga's orders to re-implement the death penalty and is awaiting directions from the President, Commissioner General of Prisons Rumy Marzook told The Sunday Times.

He said he will be taking steps to restart the hanging process after he gets orders from the President. Last week the commissioner had called for samples of ropes to be used for the executions, both in Welikada and Bogambara and has personally visited both places to make necessary arrangements to implement the decision. The Prisons Department is in the process of refurbishing the gallows

Of the 260 persons sentenced to death at Welikada 204 have appealed while the sentence on the remaining 56 has been confirmed. In Bogambara there are 81 sentenced to death of whom 64 have appealed.

The death penalty was first carried out in Sri Lanka on February 11, 1884 and the last time the noose was used at Welikada was on June 23, 1976 when Chandradasa alias "Honda Papuwa" was hung. The last criminal to be hung at Bogambara was T.M Jayawardena on November 27, 1975. So far 1968 people have been hung.

Meanwhile the current hangman is Sumedha Wijetunge, son of Upali Wijetunge, former assistant to the then hang man Louis Sinho. Before him there were Pabilis Sinho and David Sinho.

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