Court gives ultimatum to Maithripala, Pujith and Nilantha
The Supreme Court yesterday ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena to pay their total balance payment owed as compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks before August 30 this year.the Supreme Court further directed the Attorney General to file contempt of court applications against these three respondents on September 20 if they fail to comply with this order.
The Supreme Court’s seven-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice S. Thurairaja,
Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Justice Shiran Goonaratne, Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Justice Achala Wengappuli, made this order in respect of thirteen fundamental rights petitions filed by various parties, including the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, which were called before the court yesterday.the National Police Commission was directed to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena without further delay.a report in this regard was ordered to be submitted to the court on September 20.
However, at the outset of yesterday’s hearing, former President Maithripala Sirisena sought a six-year time period to pay the total compensation amount for the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.
President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha, appearing for Maithripala Sirisena, informed the Supreme Court that his client has already paid Rs. 58 million in compensation to the victims and further stated that the remaining Rs. 42 million will be paid within the next six years.
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.
However, President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, appearing for a petitioner in one of the petitions, informed the court that despite former President Sirisena owning three properties as per his affidavit, he has not made a genuine effort to make the payment. He informed the court that former President Sirisena is possessing eight acres of agricultural land with a house in Polonnaruwa, one-acre agricultural land in Weliveriya and three acres residential property in Polonnaruwa.
Meanwhile, the court was informed that out of the Rs. 75 million ordered by the court, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara has paid only Rs. 1.9 million and Nilantha Jayawardena paid Rs.4.1 million.
The court was further informed that then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis have paid the total amount of compensation ordered by the Supreme Court.