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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has granted amnesty to around 3000 prisoners to mark the Vesak Poya.

President's directives granting amnesty to prisoners is done in accordance with the powers vested in her by Article No. 34 of the Constitution of Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka.

The amnesty bring solace to three categories of prisoners, those sentence to death; those who are already serving their prison term; and those who will complete their term by August 26.

In the case of the first group, the death penalty will be commuted to life imprisonment provided the prisoners have made appeals against the verdicts on or before May 26.

With regard to the second group the amnesty will be the reduction of the term of imprisonment at the rate of one week for every six months or every 12 months. Prisoners who complete their term of imprisonment by August 26, will be freed today.

However this amnesty is not applicable to prisoners who are imprisoned for committing such offences as unlawful assembly, theft, house-breaking, offences committed against the State, abduction, rape and paedophile activities.

The amnesty has been granted on the recommendation of Interior Minister John Amaratunga.

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