Rs. 245 mn compensation paid to Easter Attack victims

 The Supreme Court heard the case, stemming from fundamental rights petitions filed against the respondents for their failure to prevent the attacks. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, and comprising Justices S. Thurairaja and A.H.M.D. Nawaz, was tasked with monitoring the disbursement of compensation.

Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, representing the Attorney General, reported that Rs. 245 million had already been distributed to 412 individuals, including the families of 215 deceased victims. She further clarified that Rs. 65 million from the allocated funds would be used for medical treatment and care for elderly victims.

However, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, represented by President’s Counsel Shamil Perera and Sanjeeva Jayawardena, expressed concerns, stating that they had not received detailed reports on the compensation payments. The Chief Justice questioned why the reports had not been shared with the relevant parties, emphasizing that withholding such information did not align with the objectives of the case.

In response, the Additional Solicitor General explained that the proceedings were focused on monitoring the disbursement of compensation but assured the court that reports would be provided to the petitioners promptly.

The Chief Justice ordered that the compensation reports be immediately shared with Cardinal Ranjith and other petitioners. The court also scheduled the next hearing for May 21, 2025, to continue its review of the disbursement process.