The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka that contempt of court charges are to be filed against former Senior DIG & head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Nilantha Jayawardena.
The court was informed today, that the contempt of court charges are to be filed for his inability to pay compensation of Rs. 75 million to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, as previously ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court thus, ordered Nilantha Jayawardena to appear before the court on 07 October 2024.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that several former government officials, including former President Maithripala Sirisena and Nilantha Jayawardena, were liable for failing to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence warnings.
The court ordered the former government officials to pay varying amounts in compensation, after taking into consideration petitions filed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, families of the victims, Catholic priests, and others, which were heard by a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
In July 2024, SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena was also placed on compulsory leave in connection to the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. At the time, the National Police Commission said SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena was placed on leave pending a disciplinary probe. (Newswire)
