In light of the Poson Full Moon Poya, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made the decision to grant a special state pardon to a number of prison inmates. The Prisons Department has clarified that this pardon is being issued under specific terms and conditions, in accordance with the constitutional powers vested in the Head of State.
Under this special pardon, inmates who have served one year or less in prison as of June 3 will be eligible for a 14-day pardon. Additionally, inmates who are currently incarcerated due to non-payment of fines will have the remainder of their prison sentences commuted.
The Prisons Department has further outlined that inmates who have received sentences of 40 years or more for non-payment of fines or other offenses, and have completed 20 years of their sentence, will also be granted this special pardon.
The granting of a special state pardon on the occasion of the Poson Full Moon Poya reflects the President’s compassion and desire to provide an opportunity for eligible inmates to reintegrate into society. This gesture aims to alleviate overcrowding in prisons and promote rehabilitation.
The Prisons Department will be responsible for implementing the necessary procedures to ensure the smooth execution of this special pardon. The details of the eligibility criteria and the specific terms and conditions will be communicated to the relevant inmates.
