Easter Sunday attacks: Nilantha Jayawardena charged with contempt of court

Colombo, Septmeber 27 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today initiated contempt of court proceedings against former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena for failing to pay the full compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

A seven-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice S. Thurairaja, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Justice Shiran Goonaratne, Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Justice Achala Wengappuli, issued notice directing Nilantha Jayawardena to appear before court on October 7.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiries, appearing for the Attorney General, outlined the progress of payments made by the respondents to the Office for Reparations and the steps taken to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Nilantha Jayawardena.

Chandaka Jayasundara, PC, representing Nilantha Jayawardena, informed court that his client has so far paid Rs. 10 million out of a total of Rs. 75 million. He explained that his client is currently on compulsory leave and is finding it extremely difficult to pay the remaining amount, stressing that this difficulty is not willful.

After considering the submissions of both parties, the Supreme Court decided to proceed with contempt of court proceedings and directed Nilantha Jayawardena to appear before court on October 7.

Court also instructed the Attorney General to coordinate with the Office for Reparations and provide details of the payments made in this regard to President’s Counsel Shammil Perera, who appeared for the Colombo Archbishop.

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis and former IGP Pujith Jayasundera had earlier paid the balance of their compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

In its judgment dated January 12, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered former President Sirisena, who held the office of the Minister of Defence at the time of the incidents, to pay a sum of Rs. 100 million as compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in connection with 13 Fundamental rights petitions filed over the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Court further ordered former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena to pay Rs. 75 million each as compensation for their failure to perform statutory duties. Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay Rs. 10 million.