Thursday, 5 February 2015 00:00
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Over 550 prisoners were freed yesterday to mark the Independence Day anniversary, Commissioner General of Prisons Chandraratne Pallegama said.
He said that 557 prisoners were freed today, including 17 females. The prisoners freed were facing jail terms for minor offences.
Pallegama said that the prisoners were freed on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena.
He said that those who are in prison after being unable to pay their fines would not need to pay the fine as part of the amnesty offered for Independence Day.
He also said that those who completed 75 years as of yesterday and were in prison for minor offences were also set free. Pallegama noted that all those in jail for serious crimes were not freed.
The Commissioner General of Prisons said that family members of those in prison were able to spend more than 20 minutes with the inmates and also give them food. (Colombo Gazette)
