588 prisoners to be freed on Independence day: Prison spokesman

A total of 588 prisoners are to be released from prisons island-wide tomorrow on presidential amnesty to mark the 75th Independence Day, Additional Prison Commissioner General and Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake today said.

He said the prisoners will be released according to the powers vested in the President under Article 34 of the Constitution and in view of the Independence Day.

According to circulars issued today, presidential pardons have been granted to prisoners who have been rehabilitated by courts on drug charges.

In addition, 31 prisoners whose conduct have been proven good in the prisons were chosen and eligible to be released under presidential amnesty on the independence day, the spokesman said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)