Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has granted a general amnesty to thousands of prisoners incarcerated for minor offences to mark traditional Buddhist Vesak Day which falls on Tuesday, officials said.

Among those to be freed are 269 young men who were found guilty of violating immigration law. They were imprisoned after being arrested while attempting to illegally sail to Italy.

The president decided to pardon them on humanitarian grounds and considering the plight of their families, officials said.

These Itay-bound illegal immigrants were sentenced to one year's imprisonment.