Maithripala Sirisena Completes Payment of Easter Sunday Compensation
Former President Maithripala Sirisena has completed the payment of 100 million rupees in compensation related to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. The final installment of 12 million rupees was paid on August 16, 2024.
The Supreme Court had ruled on January 12, 2023, that Sirisena, along with the head of the security forces, had violated constitutional rights by failing to act on intelligence that could have prevented the attacks. This decision followed 12 fundamental rights petitions.
According to the court’s ruling, the compensation payments were distributed as follows: Sirisena was ordered to pay 100 million rupees, former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and former Director of State Intelligence Nilantha Jayawardena each were to pay 75 million rupees, former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay 50 million rupees, and former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis was to pay 10 million rupees. The court also mandated that compensation be provided to the victims.
As of now, Sirisena has fulfilled his payment obligations, and Fernando and Mendis have also settled their dues. However, Jayasundara and Jayawardena have yet to complete their payments.
