July 15, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court has mandated that former President Maithripala Sirisena settle the outstanding compensation of Rs. 100 million owed to victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage by August 30, 2024.
Ex-President Sirisena had previously paid Rs. 58 million towards the compensation but requested an additional six years to pay the remaining amount, which was disclosed during proceedings before the Supreme Court.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court ruled on a case involving Sirisena and other former officials implicated in the failure to prevent the Easter attacks despite prior intelligence.
Alongside Sirisena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million, former State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara were each directed to pay Rs. 75 million, and National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis was instructed to pay Rs. 10 million in compensation to the victims.
The verdict followed hearings of 12 petitions brought by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, victims’ families, Catholic clergy, and others before a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
