SL hires hangmen, advertises work as 'light'

The Sri Lankan Government has hired two executioners after advertising the job as 'light administrative work only'.

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Sri Lanka, which has de facto suspension of the death penalty since 1976, has seen a rise in demand for the death penalty due to rise in crimes including murders, rape and child abuse, reported the Independent.

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There are over 1,116 convicts on the death row but the government has not executed anyone, despite the growing support for execution after the end of the 26-year civil war.

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Last year, a hangman was recruited but he quit his job after he saw the gallows for the first time. Since then, finding a replacement has been difficult.

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Prisons Commissioner General Rohana Pushpakumara said one has to be prepared for the event of execution whenever it happens, regardless what the government wants.