Presidential pardon for 544 prisoners

Five hundred and forty-four prisoners serving jail terms for minor offences were released yesterday under the presidential pardon on Independence Day.

Prisons Department Commissioner H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya said they were selected from prisons across the country based on their behaviour during their time in detention. Accordingly, inmates held in prisons across the country, including Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Negombo and Mahara, were released, he added.