News
SC asks Sirisena, three others to declare assets
Easter Sunday attacks case
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
The Supreme Court on Thursday (02) ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena, former defence secretary, Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former head of the SIS, SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena to pay before 30 June 2024, the full amount the court stipulated as compensation to the victims of Easter Sunday massacre.
A seven member panel of judges comprising CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya, justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairajah, AHMD Nawas, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Shiran Gunaratne also refused Sirisena’s request that he be allowed to pay the stipulated amount in 10 years.
The court also asked the defendants to furnish a detailed report of their assets along with affidavits.The judges ordered the defendants to report whether they had sold, handed over or gifted any of their properties by 02 November.
The court said it had ordered, on 12 January 2023, the police to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against SDIG Jayawardena. The judges asked the IGP what the police had done about the SDIG. On January 12, 2023, the Supreme Court found that former President Sirisena, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis and former SIS chief Nilantha Jayawardena had violated the fundamental rights of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks by failing to take action to prevent the bombings despite having received sufficient intelligence about them in advance.
The SC ordered Sirisena to pay Rs. 100 million in compensation to the petitioners from his personal money, while Pujith Jayasundara and Nilantha Jayawardena were ordered to pay Rs. 75 million each. In addition, Hemasiri Fernando and Sisira Mendis were ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and Rs. 10 million rupees, respectively.
Mendis is the only person to have paid the money.The AG on Thursday said by 11 July 2023, Sirisena had paid Rs. 15 million, Jayasundara Rs. 17 million, Jayawardena Rs. 4.1 million, and Fernando Rs. 2 million.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integrity to publish the Anti Corruption (Assets and Liabilities Statements) Orders 2025 prepared as per provisions of Anti Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 in the gazette notification and, forward those orders to the Parliament afterwards.
It was decided at the cabinet meeting held on 18-12-2024 to appoint an officers’ committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Prime Minister for submission of a report after reviewing non-commercial
institutions owned by the government. The appointed committee has already reviewed 160 institutions, and it has been decided to obtain the assistance of a subcommittee comprising the members in the field for reviewing 36 higher education centers, including the universities.
The following recommendations have been submitted by classifying 124 institutions under 09 categories, except this institution.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister to implement the aforesaid recommendations.
The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 03 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the northern sea area off the Delft Island, Jaffna on the night of 17 Mar 25.
Taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen, the Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, trespassing into island waters.
The seized boat and the three Indian fishermen were brought to the KKS Harbour and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings
Anti Corruption (Assets and Liabilities Statements) Orders 2025 to be Gazetted
Cabinet nod to review report on non-commercial institutions owned by the Government
Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in Northern waters
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