Fool-proof, tight conditions for prisoners’ release in future

Colombo, June 11 (Daily Mirror) - Following malpractices involved in the release of prisoners, the Justice Ministry will introduce fool-proof, tight conditions for remission of jail terms of those behind bars in view of national events such as Independence Day, Vesak and Christmas, a Minister said.

Article 34 (1) of the Constitution provides for the President to grant a pardon to a prisoner - either free or subject to lawful conditions or a respite of execution of sentence. The President can also substitute a less severe form of punishment on such offenders or remit the whole or part of any punishment imposed.

In view of the national occasions of every year, the successive Presidents are used to remit jail terms of prisoners convicted of minor offences or those imprisoned for reasons such as inability to pay bail money. The Justice Ministry works out the criterion for selection of prisoners to be set free by the prison authorities upon authorization by the President.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Daily Mirror that he would appoint a committee to work out fresh criteria for the release of prisoners in future under presidential approval. He said he could not elaborate on them at the moment, but fool-proof, tight conditions would be in place.

The Ministry has taken this step after the system was misused to release a prisoner without proper authorization by the President.