<p>Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is to pardon over 500 prisoners on the occasion of Sri Lanka's Independence Day, <em>Colombo Page</em> <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/Feb04_1580755612CH.php">reported</a>.</p>
<p>A list of 512 prisoners was sent by the Department of Prisons to the Ministry of Justice and the Sri Lankan President who has granted their pardon. </p>
<p>Those who have been pardoned include inmates who were imprisoned for being unable to pay fines until 31st January, prisoners with reduced sentences due to good behaviour and prisoners over the age of 70. </p>
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