Nilantha Jayawardena apologises to Supreme Court

• Completes Rs.75Mn compensation payment to Easter Sunday attack victims

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday apologised to the Supreme Court for the inconvenience caused by his failure to pay the full compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks on time. However, he managed to pay the remaining balance of the compensation while contempt of court proceedings were pending before the Supreme Court.

The Attorney General informed the court that the Office for Reparations has confirmed the receipt of Rs.65 million from Nilantha Jayawardena. The Supreme Court initiated contempt of court proceedings against him for failing to pay the full compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. 

The Attorney General informed the court that the Office for Reparations has confirmed the receipt of Rs.65 million from Nilantha Jayawardena. The Supreme Court initiated contempt of court proceedings against him for failing to pay the full compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Supreme Court had ordered Nilantha Jayawardena to pay Rs. 75 million as compensation for his failure to perform his statutory duties. On a previous occasion, the Court was informed that Nilantha Jayawardena had so far paid Rs. 10 million out of the total Rs. 75 million. Consequently, the Court decided to proceed with the contempt of court charges.

President’s Counsel Chandaka Jayasundere, appearing for Nilantha Jayawardena, informed the Supreme Court that his client’s school and university friends had come forward and collected a sum of Rs. 65 million, as his client was unable to raise the total amount alone. He sought the Court’s permission to discharge his client from the contempt of court charges and apologised, explaining that his client had no intention of disrespecting the Supreme Court.

Jayasundere made these remarks during the contempt of court proceedings against Nilantha Jayawardena for his failure to pay the full compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. The proceedings were heard before a seven-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice S. Thurairaja, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Justice Shiran Gooneratne, Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe, and Justice Achala Wengappuli.

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 Jayasundara had earlier paid the remaining balance of compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.

In its judgement 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 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Court further ordered former IGP Pujith Jayasundara 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. Former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay Rs. 10 million.