SC to recall 12 petitions

The Supreme Court has decided to recall the 12 Fundamental Rights petitions related to the Supreme Court decision which ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena and other respondents to pay compensation for the violation of the fundamental rights of the people by not taking action to prevent  the Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving intelligence information.

Accordingly, the petitions will be called before a seven-member Supreme Court bench on September 15.

These petitions are recalled to consider the manner in which the compensation stipulated by the relevant Supreme Court verdict has been paid and other matters related to it.

The respondents including former President Maithripala Sirisena had previously submitted motions to the Supreme Court, in relation to matters including the manner in which the relevant compensations were paid, the ability to pay the remaining amount and the way it would be paid.

Also, based on the information received from the Office of Reparation, the Attorney General has also filed a motion regarding the related compensation.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has decided to recall these petitions after paying attention to all these motions.

On January 12, a seven-member Supreme Court panel ruled that the fundamental rights of the petitioners had been violated by failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving intelligence information.

According to the verdict related to 12 fundamental rights petitions, former President Maithripala Sirisena was ordered to pay Rs. 100 million in damages while former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and former Head of the State Intelligence Service Nilantha Jayawardena were ordered to pay Rs. 75 million rupees each. Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis Rs. 10 million as compensation.

They were ordered to pay the respective compensation within six months from that date.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena paid Rs.15 million out of the Rs. 100 million compensation ordered by the Supreme Court and the motion sought permission to pay the remaining Rs. 85 million compensation in 10 installments of Rs. 85 lakhs each.

It stated that the compensation is expected to be paid in equal instalments over a period of 10 years from June 30, 2024, to June 30, 2033.

Several people, including the former Defence Secretary, have arranged to pay a part of the compensation.

The 12 fundamental rights petitions were filed by a group of victims including a father who had lost his children.

After a full hearing on the petitions, a seven-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya announced the relevant decision.

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