Sri Lanka President directs officials to release prisoners over 70 years of age

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the prison officials to release all prisoners over the age of 70 years regardless of their offences, said Commissioner General of Prisons, Major General V. R. de Silva.

President Rajapaksa has given this directive to coincide with the commemoration of the Prisoners' Day tomorrow, September 12, for the 12th year. A special ceremony will be held at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in this regard under the auspicious of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratna.

'Prisoners are also humans' is this year's theme of the Prisoners' Day.
The President has scheduled to meet 2,000 persons from Prison sector including officials and 500 prisoners on September 14, government sources said.
Around 27,500 persons are in Sri Lanka's prisons at the moment.