President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has granted a presidential pardon to 61 prisoners to mark the Vesak Full Moon Poya day, with 33 of them scheduled to be released on Friday, NewsFirst reported.
Prison Commissioner and Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said the pardons were issued under Article 34 of the Constitution, which gives the President the power to remit, respite or commute punishments imposed by court. The remaining 28 will be released in batches in line with administrative procedure.
Vesak pardons are a long-standing tradition under successive Sri Lankan presidents. The Commissioner did not disclose the offences for which the pardoned inmates had been serving sentences, or the prisons from which Friday’s group are being released.
The pardons land on a day of heightened public-facing Vesak activity around the country: special transport services have been deployed for devotees, and the President separately issued a Vesak day message calling for peace, reconciliation and compassion.
