Sri Lanka begins interviews for hangman and assistant

Sri Lanka's Prison Department yesterday began conducting interviews to select a new hangman. The interviews are being held at the main Welikada Prison in Colombo by a three-member panel, the Prisons Department said.

The Department are looking to fill two posts - the hangman and an assistant- out of 178 eligible candidates selected from the vast number of applications the department received .

Sri Lanka judiciary imposes capital punishment but has not implemented the death penalty since 1976. The government reinstated the death penalty in 2004 for murder, rape and drug trafficking following the murder of a high court judge.

Since 2000 there are 1,164 death row inmates languishing in jails waiting for execution or a final decision for commutation for execution. Some prisoners on death row at the moment have served over 15 years while waiting for their sentences to be carried out.