Former President Maithripala Sirisena has completed the payment of Rs. 100 million in compensation to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. On August 16, Sirisena paid the final installment of Rs. 12 million, fulfilling the Supreme Court’s order to compensate those affected by the tragic events.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled that Sirisena and several former government officials were liable for failing to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence warnings. The court ordered Sirisena to pay Rs. 100 million, with a deadline of August 30, 2024, to settle the outstanding amount.
Other officials, including former Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando, former State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena, former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, and National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis, were also ordered to pay varying amounts in compensation.
The compensation payments stem from 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. (Newswire)
