Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing has granted amnesty to 1,519 prisoners to mark Buddha Day, according to state media reports on Thursday.

State-run Myanmar Radio and Television said the pardon covers 1,508 Myanmar nationals and 11 foreign detainees, issued under separate presidential orders. Buddha Day, observed on the full moon of Kason, is one of the country’s most significant religious holidays.

Authorities said the move was intended to promote “peace and humanity,” while allowing those released to contribute to national development. The government also framed the decision as a gesture to maintain friendly international relations, particularly in the case of foreign nationals who were freed and deported.

The orders stipulate that any individual who reoffends will be required to serve both the new sentence and the remaining portion of their previous term.

In a parallel directive, the administration announced a reduction of one-sixth of the sentences for prisoners currently incarcerated across the country.

According to China Daily, such mass amnesties are a recurring feature of Myanmar’s political calendar, often tied to religious or national occasions, and are framed by authorities as part of broader reconciliation efforts.

The latest move follows a larger-scale amnesty on April 17, when more than 4,500 prisoners were released to mark Myanmar’s traditional New Year.

Amnesty announcements in Myanmar are closely watched by international observers, particularly amid ongoing concerns over the detention of political prisoners since the military takeover in 2021.

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