Sri Lanka recruits hangmen for prisoner executions

Jewel SAMAD / AFP

Sri Lanka has hired two hangmen as it prepares to carry out its first executions in more than 40 years.

A prisons spokesman said the two candidates needed to go through two-weeks of training before being signed on.

As many as 100 people reportedly applied for the job that was advertised for male Sri Lankans, aged between 18 and 45, with “excellent moral character” and “mental strength”.

It comes a week after President Maithripala Sirisena announced that four prisoners convicted of drug offences will face the death penalty.

"They have not been told yet," Sirisena said. "We don't want to announce the names yet because that could lead to unrest in prisons."

More from International News

On Virgin Radio today

  • Non Stop Hits

    3:00am - 7:00pm

    The UAE's #1 Hit Music Station with no interruptions

  • The Fix With Dany Neville

    7:00pm - 11:00pm

    Officially the UAE's favourite DJ, Dany Neville makes sure you have the soundtrack you need every Saturday night.

Trending on Virgin Radio