(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Prisons Department has taken steps to release many prisoners for Christmas this year under a special pardon offered by the Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President will grant a Presidential Pardon to a number of prisoners serving time in the island’s jails on the occasion of Christmas, the Prisons Department says.
The Presidential Pardon for the inmates is granted under Article 34 of the Constitution. Prisoners who have been convicted for minor offences under the Penal Code will be granted Presidential pardon. Inmates convicted of severe crimes such as rape, crimes against children and drug offences will not be pardoned.
Prisoners to be pardoned through this program will be selected under several categories based on the term in prison they have completed by Christmas Day.
Additional Commissioner General of Prisons, Media Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake says that the Prisons Department is currently preparing the names of the eligible prisoners, and those prisoners will be released from the respective prisons on Sunday morning (25).
