Vienna Convention and Sri Lankans on Death Row

Abstract

The number of Sri Lankan migrant workers leaving the country each year amounts to over two hundred thousand, many of them being for low skilled labour. The protection of human rights of these workers who are often abused, subjected to physical and sexual violations and exploited and do not have recourse to legal entitlements is an area which needs great attention from the state. This paper is addresses the problem of the lack of legal protection. Considering the number of Sri Lankans who have been sentenced to death and who have not legal representation, this is an urgent issue which needs to be redressed. The author draws attention to some clauses of the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations which are of relevance to Sri Lanka and which could provide some answers to the problem.