A five-judge bench has been appointed by the Court of Appeal to consider the writ petition filed by journalist Malinda Seneviratne against the implementation of the death penalty.

Seneviratne filed the petition challenging the President's decision to sanction death penalty on four prisoners ending a decade-long moratorium.

Addressing a meeting with newspaper editors and media heads last week, President Sirisena said the death penalty would be imposed on four prisoners in two weeks.