Sri Lanka to reimpose the death penalty

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — More than two decades after imposing a death penalty moratorium, government officials in Sri Lanka announced Jan. 10 plans to revive the practice to combat rising crime.

Authorities have been told to prepare to execute 55 prisoners who were sentenced to death, the Associated Press reported. Though unenforced since the 1977 moratorium, the death penalty has remained legal in Sri Lanka. Two years ago the office of the president announced it would end the moratorium, but never did so.