Death Penalty in Sri Lanka

Death Penalty is by far the most severe punishment imposed since it allows the State to take away the most fundamental part of a human being, his life. The death penalty is recognized as brutal and primitive and therefore international organizations and covenants attempt to abolish it for good. The death penalty in Sri Lanka is a controversial issue and backed by a colourful history. The main argument against the death penalty is that judges can make mistakes and sentence an innocent man to death. The main argument for it is that it will establish retribution and act as a deterrent on society.

History

The history of death penalty dates back to the ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome and even Sri Lanka where we see the execution of Socrates, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the penalties imposed on King Elara’s son, King Dhatusena and the family of Ahelapola. It was considered that certain crimes such as murder and rape should be treated with the punishment of death.

Methods of Execution

The methods of execution were gruesome as they ranged from the gallows and the guillotine in Europe to decapitation and hara-kiri in Asia. Other methods included poisoning such as the administration of hemlock, entombment through walling or in a pit, by way of animals such as being stomped to death by an elephant or ripped apart by lions.

Death Penalty in Sri Lanka

The British codified the death penalty in the Penal Code of 1883. It was to be executed by way of hanging. After independence Prime Minister Bandaranaike abolished the death penalty but was reinstated following his assassination. The Constitution in 1978 and the Code of Criminal Procedure declared that a death sentence required the ratification of the President which effectively ended executions and the final execution was in June 1976 for the Yodakandiya triple murders. In Sri Lanka it is imposed on murder, waging war against the state, narcotics trade, mutiny, aiding any of these crimes, abetment of suicide and giving false evidence in a trial meting out a death penalty. Since it is not executed the death penalty automatically converts to life imprisonment.

Following the assassination of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared that death penalty was valid but never established. In 2007 President Mahinda Rajapaksa indicated that Sri Lanka has no plans to implement the death penalty quote “since this is a country where there are protests even if we try to kill a dog.”  

Red Slender Loris

The Red Slender Loris (loris tardigradus) is a small, nocturnal prosimian endemic to the rainforests of Sri Lanka. It belongs to the family Lorisidae and the Primates order. It is called Unahapuluwa in Sinhala and Thevangu in Tamil. This is number 6 of the 10 focal species and number 22 of the 100 EDGE mammal species worldwide considered the most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered. There are 2 subspecies of Red Slender Loris: Loris tardigradus tardigradus and Loris tardigradus nycticeboides.  

Characteristics

The Red Slender Loris is one of two slender loris species, the other one being the Grey Slender Loris. They have a body length between 11.6 and 17 centimeters weigh between 103 and 172 grams. They have soft, dense fur which it is reddish/brown in colour with a silver/grey coloured underside. Their limbs are long and slender and on each foot their big toe opposes the other 4 so they have a pincer-like grip. They do not have tails. They have large, round, forward facing eyes which enable them to have a precise depth perception. Their ears are large, round, thin and hairless at the edges. On their face they have a central pale stripe that starts above their eyes and runs down towards their nose.

Behavior & Habitat

The Red Slender Loris can be found in the lowland and tropical rainforests in the south western wet-zone of Sri Lanka. They form small social groups consisting of individuals of both sexes and some youngsters. They are nocturnal and during the day they rest in a tree hole, a dense leaf nest or a similar secure place. The adults typically hunt separately during the night. They are primarily insectivorous but also eat bird eggs, berries, leaves, buds and occasionally invertebrates as well as geckos and lizards. To maximize protein and nutrient uptake they consume every part of their prey, including the scales and bones. They make nests out of leaves or find hollows of trees or a similar secure place to live in. Females are dominant. They breed twice per year between May and December. After a gestation period of 166 - 169 days, 1 or 2 young are born.  The lifespan of this species is believed to be around 15–18 years in the wild.

Threat and Conservation

Habitat destruction is a major threat. It is widely trapped and killed for use in supposed remedies for eye diseases and get killed by snakes, dogs, and some fish. Other threats include: electrocution on live wires, road accidents and the pet trade. It is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN. It is protected under the Fauna and Flora Ordinance of 1938. 

Monitor Lizards

Water Monitor (Kabaragoya)

 Monitor Lizards are large reptiles belonging to the genus Varanus and the family, Varanidae. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs.  In Sinhalese the Monitor Lizard is called Thalagoya and the Water Monitor is called Kabaragoya and they are known as Udumbu in Tamil and Goannas in Australia.  There are about 60 varanid species and the last one was discovered in 2009 in New Guinea.

Evolution

Monitor lizards differ greatly from other lizards in several ways, possessing a relatively high metabolic rate for reptiles and several sensory adaptations that benefit the hunting of live prey. Recent research indicates that these lizards, including the Komodo dragon, may have some venom. It is also believed that the monitor lizards have evolved from the Mosasaurs that lived during the Cretaceous era.

Distribution

The various species of Varanus cover a vast area, occurring through Africa, the Asian subcontinent from India and Sri Lanka to China, down Southeast Asia to Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and islands of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. There is also a large concentration of monitor lizards in Tioman Island in the Malaysian state of Johor.

Monitor Lizard (Thalagoya)

Characteristics and Behaviour

Some are small reptiles of less than a foot in length, while the Komodo Dragon, the largest living lizard, grows to 2-3 meters. All monitors are tropical reptiles and carnivorous but some are known to be omnivorous as well. They are active lizards that may be very hostile, lashing out with their tails upon the slightest provocation. Even a small monitor can produce a stinging lash with its tail. Monitors will devour anything they are capable of overpowering and tend to swallow their prey whole, like snakes. Monitors are daytime lizards. Their diet composes of small birds, large insects and crocodile and bird eggs, crabs, fish, other lizards, frogs and squirrels.

Monitors do not divest themselves of their tails, like some other lizards. Once lost, the tail of a monitor does not grow back. They are mostly terrestrial, but many are agile climbers and good swimmers. They lay from 7 to 37 eggs, which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump. Eggs are 2 inches long with leathery shells. Incubation is 8 to 10 weeks. The young use an egg tooth to emerge.

Protection

In Sri Lanka monitor lizards have been granted protected status especially the Asian Water Monitor now limited to Sri Lanka. Killing or keeping any of these animals without a license will be fined. In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and all other parts of South India, catching or killing of monitor lizards is banned under Protected Species Act.  

Golden Palm Civet

The Golden Palm Civet (paradoxurus zeylonensis) is the only endemic species in Sri Lanka from the Viverridae or the Civet Family belonging to the Carnivora Order. It is called Pani Uguduwa, Ran Hothambuwa or Sapumal Kalawadda in Sinhala and Maram Nai in Tamil. However the Asian Palm Civet and the Golden Palm Civet are sometimes collectively referred to as Kalawedda. Golden Palm Civets are featured on the 3 rupee Sri Lankan postage stamp however, on the stamp they are named as the Golden Palm Cat.

Characteristics

It is a smallish civet and has a coat that is either light brown or dark brown in color. Despite its name, the golden palm civet is not necessarily golden in colour: there are both golden and dark-brown morphs. The fur of the golden species is genuinely golden, from a beautiful bright red-gold to a more faded and brownish golden tone, whereas individuals of the brown morph vary from dark grayish brown to nearly black. The hair on the back of its neck grows reverse grain, from the shoulders toward the head. A fully grown mature individual is about 95 centimeters long.

Behaviour and Habitat

Like other palm civets, they are nocturnal, and arboreal. They spend the day sleeping in large hollow tree branches. They are solitary except throughout the mating season and at some stage when the offspring are being raised. Reproduction occurs in the latter months of the year, and it is presumed that females give birth to more that one litter with two or three young annually. They are spread throughout the country and have been recorded in all three biotic zones but can be found especially in the rainforests of such as Singharaja and Wasgamuwa. Being omnivorous their diet consists of a vast variety of food ranging from fruits like bananas and mangos to small birds, lizards, frogs and bantam mammals like rats.

Threats and Conservation

Apart from being endemic the species is also endangered and has been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The populations of these species are rapidly decreasing mainly due to deforestation leading to the destruction of their habitat, as well as hunting and poaching. In response to the grave threat of the extinction of the Golden Palm Civet the national zoological gardens of Sri Lanka initiated a breeding and conservation program in 2005. The Fauna and Flora Ordinance carries heavy penalties for the killing of endemic species which includes the civet.

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Sri Lankan Axis Deer

The Sri Lankan Axis Deer (axis axis ceylonensis) or Ceylon Spotted Deer is a subspecies of axis deer (axis axis) that inhabits only Sri Lanka. It is called Thith Muwa in Sinhala and Pulli Maan in Tamil. The name chital is not used in Sri Lanka although it is the name used throughout the sub continent. The Sri Lankan Axis Deer is the only other subspecies of the chital deer other than the Indian Chital (axis axis axis). It belongs to the Cervidae family under the Artiodactyla order.

Description

The axis deer’s coat is pinkish fawn, marked with white spots, and its underparts are white. Its antlers, which it sheds annually, are usually three-pronged and curve in a lyre shape and may extend to 75 centimeters. Compared to the hog deer, its close relative, the chital has a more cursorial build, its antler pedicles are proportionally short and its auditory bullae are smaller. It also has large nasals. It stands about 90 centimeters tall at the shoulder and masses about 85 kilograms, although males tend to be larger than females. Its lifespan is around 8–14 years.

Habitat and Diet

These deer are mostly in the Dry Zone and inhabit lowland dry forests, savannas, and shrub lands. Very rarely, these deer inhabit dry mountain areas. The Sri Lankan axis deer eats primarily grasses, but it also eats fallen fruits and leaves. They graze closely with langur, peacock, wild buffalo, and sambar.

Behaviour

They are active primarily during early morning and again during the evening, but they are commonly observed near waterholes anytime. They usually live in groups of between 10-60 animals, though herds may include up to 100 animals. The chital has a protracted breeding season due in part to the tropical climate, and births can occur throughout the year. Males sporting hard antlers are dominant over those in velvet or those without antlers, irrespective of their size and other factors. Stags commonly bellow during the rut. Hinds birth one fawn, rarely two, at a time. Chital are generally silent when grazing together. They do however make high-pitched chuckles when walking. When grazing chital do a "courtesy posture" when they pass each other. When alarmed, chital will bark. When in danger, they run in groups. They will make bursts of high-speed running and then soon tire and dive into heavy cover to hide.

Conservation

Unlike the mainland axis deer (Axis axis) which is plentiful, Sri Lankan axis deer populations are considered to be vulnerable. Threats include hunting for meat and deforestation. Historically, axis deer were found in very large numbers in the entire dry zone of Sri Lanka, but these numbers have been significantly reduced. Axis deer are important prey for the Sri Lankan leopard as well as for sloth bears and jackals. Today several thousands of these deer are found in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan axis deer are mainly found in protected areas in the dry zone, with a small number of herds living outside the protected forest areas. Large herds can be found only in protected areas.

Sri Lankan Sloth Bear

The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear (melursus ursinus inornatus) is a subspecies of the Sloth Bear. It is the only representative of the Bear Family or Ursidae found in Sri Lanka. It is an endemic animal to Sri Lanka and classified as one of the most threatened with extinction by the IUCN. It is called Walaha in Sinhala and Karadi in Tamil.

Description

Sloth bears are small and have long, shaggy black fur, especially over the shoulders and neck, which looks like a mane. It has a distinctive whitish or yellowish chest patch. The snout is light colored and mobile about 7 cm long. These bears also have a long muzzle with lips that can be closed. They have long white curved, blunt claws and a tail that is approximately 15 cm long. Adult sloth bears usually weigh about 140 kg females being somewhat smaller than the males. They are usually 3 feet high at the shoulder and about 6 feet long.

Habitat and Diet

Sloth bears are found in forested areas and in grasslands, predominantly at lower elevations and so mostly found in the dry zone. They apparently favor drier forests and have been reported to prefer areas with rocky outcrops. Sloth bears are omnivorous and its favorite food is primarily termites and other insects which it snorts and sucks out of termite hills on the ground with a vacuum-cleaner sounding roar that can be heard several hundred yards away. Its diet includes fruits, blooms and honey in its menu.

Behavior

The sloth bear derives its name from a superficial resemblance to tree sloths, which are in fact much smaller mammals of the order Edentata. Adult sloth bears are usually solitary, except during the breeding season. They are mostly nocturnal, feeding and traveling by night and sleeping in the day. They are excellent tree climbers and are often seen hanging from a tree limb like a sloth. The comparatively poor vision and hearing of sloth bears is compensated for by a highly developed sense of smell. They are known to roar, snarl, yelp and even whimper. After mating, there is a period of about 6 to 7 months before the young are born. They are born in earthen dens and stay inside till two or three months old. Mother bears are known to carry their young on their backs, the cubs using the long shaggy fur on their mother's back to hold on to.

Conservation

The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is highly threatened, with a population of less than 1000 (the wild population may be as few as 500). Destruction of dry-zone natural forest is its main threat, because unlike other large Sri Lankan animals, the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is highly dependent on natural forests for its food source. Programs such as AZA Bear Advisory Group have made it a high priority to protect the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear. 

Sri Lankan Elephant

The Sri Lankan Elephant (elephas maximus maximus), as suggested by its name from Sri Lanka, is the nominate subspecies of the Asian Elephant and is the largest of the subspecies although smaller than the two species of African elephants. It is endemic to the island and is classified as an endangered species under the IUCN Red List. It is called Aliya or Atha in Sinhala and Yannai in Tamil. It is a highly revered creature throughout the country even participating in religious ceremonies like processions.

Description

The Sri Lankan Elephant is generally dark grey in colour and is the darkest of all Asian elephants. It has patches of depigmentation (areas with no skin color) on its ears, face, trunk and belly. The main difference between the Sri Lankan elephant and the African elephant is that the former has smaller ears. The Sri Lankan Elephant tends to grow to around 2 to 3.6 meters in height and 3,000–5,000 kilograms in weight. A unique feature of elephants is their tusks and some grown animals even have tusks. Their skin is around 3–4 cm thick.

Habitat & Diet

Sri Lankan elephants generally live in hot climates. The historical range of the Sri Lankan Elephant includes all Sri Lankan eco-regions: lowland rainforests, montane forest and the Sri Lankan dry-zone forest. Today the Sri Lankan Elephant is extinct from montane forest and occupies mainly dry-zone forests, although a small population lives in rainforests. Udawalawe, Yala, Wilpattu and Minneriya National Parks are prime locations for spotting elephants. It is an herbivore and its diet includes grass, leaves, bark, fallen fruits and palm leaves. Large bulls need nearly 200 kg of food per day.

Behaviour

Usually they stay in the jungle to shelter them from the heat of the sun during the day. They use mud to cover their body against heat. They love the water and can be found swimming in tanks and rivers. Elephant rarely live alone and live in large herds. The oldest female elephant is the leader of the herd. Elephants are also very active in the night. Some people believe that they have grave yards and come near to a water resource when they are about to die. Female elephants give a birth once in 4 years and 2-3 babies in their life span.

Conservation

The main threat for elephants is the human/elephant conflict where humans kill the animals to protect crops and houses. The next greatest threat is deforestation as this leads to loss of habitat and food for the elephants. Other threats include poaching (especially for the ivory trade), drought and capture for domesticity. The Sri Lankan Elephant is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and killing it carries the death penalty. The government of Sri Lanka plays an active role in the conservation of elephants through programs like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Kegalle treating injured elephants and caring for orphan elephants and the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre where orphaned elephant calves are kept until they are released into the habitat.

Sri Lankan Leopard

The Sri Lankan Leopard (panthera pardus kotiya) is the island’s top predator and is also one of nine recognized subspecies of Leopard. It is an endemic animal to Sri Lanka and classified as endangered by the IUCN. Of the four species of wild cats found in Sri Lanka, the leopard is the largest. In Sinhala the Leopard is now called Diviya and in Tamil it is called Puli.  

Description

Leopards have lithe, elongated bodies supported on relatively stocky legs and broad paws. Sri Lankan leopards are generally larger in size than their relatives elsewhere. As with other leopards, the coat is a tawny or rusty yellow, marked with the dark spots and rosettes so characteristic of this species; individual markings are unique. Being the sole large carnivore in Sri Lanka it helps to determine the population density and health of prey species such as spotted deer.

Habitat and Diet

It has been observed in a variety of habitats including dry evergreen monsoon forest, arid scrub jungle, low and upper highland forest, rainforest, and wet zone intermediate forests. A recent study has shown that Yala National Park has one of the highest recorded densities of leopards in the world. Its diet includes small mammals, birds, reptiles as well as larger animals. Axis or spotted deer make up the majority of its diet in the dry zone. The animal also preys on sambar, barking deer, wild boar and monkeys. The cat has also been known to tackle almost fully grown buffalos.

Behavior

It is undoubtedly the most cunning of the larger cats and is also stealthy and highly adaptable. It silently stalks its prey until it is within striking distance where it unleashes a burst of speed to quickly pursue and pounce on its victim. The prey is usually dispatched with a single bite to the throat. They are solitary nocturnal hunters but are also active during dawn and dusk. There appears to be no birth season or peak, with births scattered across months. A litter usually consists of 2 cubs. Leopards have a distinctive call which is more like a cough that sounds like a wood plank being cut with a saw. Other sounds that leopards make include growling when aggressive, spitting and snarling when threatened and purring when contented. Leopards in the wild live for 15-20 years.

Conservation

The survival of the Sri Lankan leopard is threatened due to poaching, habitat loss and human-leopard encounters. Years of civil unrest in Sri Lanka have hampered conservation efforts. The Leopard is protected under the Fauna and Flora Ordinance of 1938. Recent studies show that there should be more effective measures to protect the declining leopard population. Associations such as The Leopard Project under the WWCT and the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society are closely working with the Sri Lankan Government to ensure this occurs.