850 prisoners to be released

16 May 2011 10:07 pm

Only around 850 prisoners will be released in view of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi today after religious observances, officials said . Though the Prison Reforms Ministry initially asked for permission to release 2600 prisoners, the prison authorities have approved only 850.

Ministry Secretary A. Dissanayake said that some prisoners were released in view of the Independence Day, and therefore it was impossible to find 2600 prisoners to be released this time despite initial plans arranged for it.

Mr. Dissanayake said that the number of imprisonment cases had dropped by six percent and it was a positive development.

“With the development of the economy, there is a less tendency for criminal activities by individuals. We see a drastic drop in the cases of drug smuggling and underworld crimes,” he said. (KB)