COLOMBO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Over 500 prisoners were released under a Presidential Pardon from prisons across Sri Lanka on Sunday to mark the 70th anniversary celebrations of the country's Independence Day.

Prison Department Commissioner H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya said that 544 prisoners serving jail terms for minor offences were released under the pardon based on their behavior during the detention period.

He said prisoners held in several prisons including Anuradhapura in the North Central Province, Kandy in the Central Hills and Colombo were released under the pardon.

Sri Lanka Sunday celebrated its 70th Independence Day anniversary from British colonial rule by holding a grand parade in the capital.