Two days more for Maithripala to pay compensation over Easter bombings

The deadline to former President Maithripala Sirisena and other accused individuals to pay compensation for failing to avert the Easter Sunday bomb attacks will come to an end on Wednesday (July 12).

In a verdict on January 12, the Supreme Court ordered former President Sirisena to pay a sum of Rs. 100 million while former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former SIS director Nilantha Jayawardhane were ordered to pay Rs. 75 million each as compensation, former Defence Secretary  Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and former National Intelligence chief Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay Rs.10 million within four months from January 12.

The Court held that these respondents had violated the fundamental rights of petitions filed over the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Easter bombings, the worst attacks in Sri Lanka since the civil war ended in 2009, took place on Easter Sunday in 2019, targeting three churches and three luxury hotels across Sri Lanka, killing 270 people and injuring over 500. (Sheain Fernandopulle)