The Supreme Court today initiated contempt of court proceedings against former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena for failing to pay the full compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

A 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, issued notice directing Nilantha Jayawardena to appear before court on October 7.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiries, appearing for the Attorney General, outlined the progress of payments made by the respondents to the Office for Reparations and the steps taken to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Nilantha Jayawardena.

Chandaka Jayasundara, PC, representing Nilantha Jayawardena, informed court that his client has so far paid Rs. 10 million out of a total of Rs. 75 million. He explained that his client is currently on compulsory leave and is finding it extremely difficult to pay the remaining amount, stressing that this difficulty is not willful.

After considering the submissions of both parties, the Supreme Court decided to proceed with contempt of court proceedings and directed Nilantha Jayawardena to appear before court on October 7.

Court also instructed the Attorney General to coordinate with the Office for Reparations and provide details of the payments made in this regard to President’s Counsel Shammil Perera, who appeared for the Colombo Archbishop.

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis and former IGP Pujith Jayasundera had earlier paid the balance of their compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

In its judgment 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 in connection with 13 Fundamental rights petitions filed over the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Court further ordered former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena to pay Rs. 75 million each as compensation for their failure to perform statutory duties. Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and former Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay Rs. 10 million.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.