Easter Sunday attacks: Pujith completes Rs.75Mn compensation payment

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgement former IGP Pujith Jayasundara has paid the remaining balance of compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.  The Supreme Court had ordered former IGP Pujith Jayasundara to pay Rs. 75 million as compensation for his failure to perform his statutory duties.  

It was revealed that former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, and former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis have also paid the full amounts of compensation ordered by the Supreme Court. The Court had given an ultimatum to the respondents to pay their balance payment before August 30 this year.   

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.