Presidential pardons had been granted to 267 prisoners who are above the age of 65 and were convicted over minor offences. Outgoing President Maithripala Sirisena had signed the necessary documents on 14 November prior to ending his term in office.
According to the Department of Prisons Commissioner General T.M.J.W. Thennakoon, the candidates that received the presidential pardon were chosen by a committee of prison officials.
“These persons were located in various prisons across the country and within two to three days of signing off the presidential pardon papers, they were released. I can confirm that all 267 prisoners who received presidential pardons have now been released from their prisons,” Thennakoon reiterated.
The Morning