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

President Rajapaksa has given this directive to coincide with the commemoration of the Prisoners' Day yesterday, September 12, for the 12th year.

Around 27,500 persons are in Sri Lanka's prisons at the moment.