Amnesty International said it was "gravely concerned" over Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate the death penalty

Amnesty International said it was "gravely concerned" over Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate the death penalty and urged the government to reconsider.
The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment," the London-based human rights group said in statement.
"There is no proof that it is a more effective deterrent to crime than imprisonment." President Chandrika Kumaratunga had said she was lifting a 28-year moratorium on the death penalty, after a High Court judge was gunned down outside his home in broad daylight the day before. Kumaratunga said the reinstatement of capital punishment would be effective immediately "for rape, murder and narcotics dealings."
"Given the significant failings within the Sri Lankan justice system, including frequent reports of torture in custody to extract confessions, the chances of innocent people being executed are high," Amnesty said.