Colombo, June 21 -- Several inmates convicted of murder and other serious crimes were among hundreds of prisoners illegally released under the guise of presidential pardons without proper authorisation from the President, the Daily Mirror learns.

Police said a total of 247 inmates were unlawfully released from prisons across the country on three separate occasions, as revealed by an ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe.

According to the findings, 158 prisoners were released on Christmas Day 2024, 40 on National Independence Day, and 49 on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, without formal approval from the Head of State.

The CID launched investigations into the misuse of the Presidential Pardon following a complaint filed by the...