Sri Lanka Police has announced the implementation of a special traffic plan in Colombo in line with this year’s Vesak Festival.

Starting today (May 12), traffic plans will be enforced on days when the Bauddhaloka, Buddha Rashmi, and Sirasa Vesak zones are active.

The statement issued by Police Headquarters regarding the Vesak traffic arrangements is as follows:

The annual Sri Pada Pilgrimage season ends with the Vesak Poya today (May 12) following religious observances.

The season commenced on the Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day on December 14, 2024.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees joined in the pilgrimage during the past five months.

A special presidential pardon has been granted to 388 inmates islandwide, in view of Vesak 2025.

Inmates aged 65 or above who have served at least half of their sentence will also have the remainder of their sentence waived.

Prison Media Spokesman, Commissioner Gamini B. Dissanayake, yesterday, said that 388 inmates, including 04 women, would be released today under a special presidential pardon.

Among them are 40 from the Welikada Prison, 38 from the Wariyapola Prison, 36 from Anuradhapura Prison and 30 from the Mahara prison.

In addition, the Department of Prisons has also announced a special arrangement permitting open visits for inmates in view of Vesak Poya Day.

This opportunity will be available on May 12 and 13, the Department of Prisons announced.
 
The Department added that arrangements will be made to provide each inmate with a food parcel, a packet of sweets and a personal hygiene kit brought by the inmate’s relatives.
 
These visits will be permitted across all prisons in the country, by adhering to necessary health guidelines.