A total of 49 prisoners are eligible to benefit from a special Presidential Pardon, which will take effect on February 4, 2026, in view of the 78th National Independence Day, Prisons Commissioner (Media Spokesperson) A.C. Gajanayake said.

He said the special pardon has been granted by the President under the powers vested in him by Article 34 of the Constitution, the Presidential Secretariat said.

Under the terms of the pardon, eligible prisoners will receive a one-week reduction of their sentence for every year of imprisonment already served. In addition, the remaining period of imprisonment imposed due to the non-payment of fines amounting to less than Rs. 75,000 will be waived.

The Presidential Secretariat noted that the decision forms part of the customary Independence Day clemency, extended to eligible inmates in recognition of the national significance of the occasion and on humanitarian grounds.