Nearly 3,000 released from Sri Lanka prisons

Colombo

Nearly 2900 prisoners have been released from overcrowded prisons in Sri Lanka as the country has stepped up it’s efforts to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus.

Sri Lanka has been under a countrywide curfew since March 20. Five people have died due to the virus and the total number of confirmed cases have risen to 166.

According to a statement from the president’s office, 2,961 prisoners have been released on bail since March 17, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Sri Lanka’s prisons are highly congested, and the president’s office said at present, there are more than 26,000 inmates while the normal capacity does not exceed 10,000.