President Maithripala Sirisena has pardoned 544 prisoners serving time around the country for minor offences, on the occasion of National Independence Day.
A Prisons Department spokesman said 544 prisoners who have been convicted for minor offences under the Penal Code, have been granted Presidential pardon and were released from prisons around the island. He said that inmates had been selected under four categories depending on their offence, age, and conduct during the detention period. Accordingly, prisoners held in various prisons in the island, namely Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Negombo, and Mahara, were released yesterday, he said.