The Supreme Court today (12) held five respondents including former President Maithripala Sirisena, have violated fundamental rights by not preventing the Easter attack despite intelligence information.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay a sum of Rs.100 million, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former SIS director Nilantha Jayawardhane Rs.75 million each, Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando Rs. 50 million and former Chief National Intelligence Sisira Mendis Rs.10 million as compensation to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks from their personal funds.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena on several occasions prior to the SC decision, requested the court to acquit himself of the charges related to the Easter Sunday attacks, claiming that he was not aware of the attacks. But Sirisena was serving as the Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief at the time of attack.
The Supreme Court issued the verdict while taking into consideration the fundamental rights petitions filed by a number of parties including the relatives of the injured and dead persons, Catholic priests and the Sri Lanka Bar Association alleging that fundamental rights have been violated due to the ignorant and irresponsible actions of the respondents despite receiving intelligence information that suicide attacks are panned targeting Catholic churches and star hotels on Easter Sunday.
A large number of Catholic priests and relatives of the injured and dead persons affected by Easter Sunday attack were present in the Court Complex to witness this verdict.
