On the occasion of Poson Full Moon Poya Day, 440 prisoners will be released today (3) under the special State amnesty granted by the President.

This special state amnesty is granted based on the powers assigned to the President via Clause 34 of the Constitution.

Among those to be released are 434 male prisoners and six female prisoners.The Additional Commissioner General of Prisons (media spokesman) Chandana Ekanayake said that these prisoners will be released from 24 prisons.

The greatest number of prisoners to be released is from the Pallekelle Prison and the number is 87. 43 Prisoners from the Mahara Prison, 39 Prisoners from the Taldena Prison, 37 prisoners from the Weerawila Prison, 26 prisoners from the Pallansena prison, 22 prisoners from the Welikada prison and 21 prisoners from the Batticaloa prison are to be released. This special Presidential Amnesty is effective only for prisoners who were in prison until 22 May.

Granting a 14-day amnesty for a year or part of a year spent in prison to the prisoners who are serving their sentence in prison until June 3, cancelling the balance of the sentence for prisoners who have not paid fines, abolishing the rest of the prison sentence in respect of prisoners who are serving their sentence in prison by June 3, the remaining balance of the sentence of prisonerswho have been sentenced to 40 years or more including fines and have served 20 years of that sentence by June 3 (from the date of sentencing by the High Court) will be canceled under this amnesty.

Also, among the prisoners who were sentenced to life on this June 03, or the prison sentence of the prisoner who was sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 18 years or less will be reduced to 15 years (with fines) and implemented from the date of sentencing by the High Court.

The remainder of the rehabilitation period of the prisoners who have been convicted of drug charges as of June 3 (including prison sentences completed on non-payment of fines) and sent to rehabilitation as of this date, and who have completed half or more of their rehabilitation period, according to the ommunity Revision Act No. 46 of 1999 will be abolished have to be spent under the supervision of an officer under this amnesty.

(dailynews.lk)