Colombo (News 1st);  146 prison inmates are due to be released from prisons island wide on February 4th, 2021 as per a Special Pardon granted by the President.

According to the Department of Prisons the President will grant the following special pardons on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day which falls on the 4th of February 2021.

I. One month amnesty for one year or part of the sentence served by an inmate
II. Abolition of fines to be paid.
III. Release of prisoners over 65 years of age who have served half of their sentences.
IV. Release prisoners over 50 years of age serving more than 25 years in prison.
V. Release of juvenile offenders who have served half of their sentence.

Due to the corona epidemic the number of prisoners awaiting release has decreased, said the Department of Prisons adding the reason for this is because inmates were already given a pardon on 31st August 2020, 20th November 2020 and 08th of January 2021 and on the eve of Christmas.

Many of the detainees who are due to be released on February 4 have been subjected to PCR tests and can be released as soon as the results are available, it added.

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