The Department of Prisons says that a group of 1,400 prisoners will be given a general amnesty in lieu of the Vesak Poya Day which marks the three noble events of Buddha’s life.
Accordingly steps have been taken to release prisoners representing all prisons in the country.
Sri Lanka is celebrating the Buddhist festival of Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha.
The government has declared May 3 and 4 as Vesak days and the period from April 30 to May 6 as Vesak Week.
The Vesak Festival this year is being held at the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya in Badulla District on Sunday under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. It will be held under the theme “Cultivate Compassion”.
Many religious programs have been organized at the venue and at other temples across the country to mark the occasion.
The government issued three stamps to mark the Vesak Poya. Another stamp is to be issued at the state Vesak festival on Monday.
Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that 1,500 police officers have been station in Colombo for the safety of the public. Around seven Vesak zones and over 30 pandals have been organized in around Colombo.
