On the recommendations of the special committee appointed on the directions of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, 2,961 prisoners were released on bail. This group of prisoners were gradually released from March 17th until today (04).
The committee was appointed based on a request made to the president by the prisoners when the state leader visited the prisons on an inspection tour.
Based on the directions of the President, The special committee appointed by the president is expected to meet again on March 26th to receive recommendations regarding legal relief measures for prisoners who are unable to pay their fines or bail.
The Legal Committee consists of officials of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the Department of Prisons.
The President Legal Director General Hariguptha Rohanadheera said that in determining the release of prisoners’ special attention was placed on prisoners who have been serving long periods and who suffer from health issues, minor offenders who are unable to post bail and those who have served a greater part of their sentence, when determining their release.
The prison capacity is around 10,000 but there are over 20,000 prisoners in prisons. The current health issue in the country was also taken into consideration. The prisoners who were released were advised to make good use of the relief granted by the judiciary and follow the guidelines and conditions and live as law-abiding and decent citizens of our society.
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