Compensation for victims of political violence

COLOMBO: Chairman of the Committee to probe in to grievances of victims of political violence during 2005 Presidential Election C. N. Saliya Mathew submitted the report of the Committee to President Mahinda Rajapaksa recommending payment of compensation to the tune of Rs. 6,386,500.00. to the victims.

On May 24, 2006, President Rajapaksa appointed a committee to direct the authorities with a committee report of the steps that should be taken to provide compensation for the victims.

In the process the committee had identified several issues which were taken in to consideration in granting compensation.

They are destruction and setting fire on residences and business places, damaging the vehicles, assaulting, threatening, shooting and taking in to custody illegitimately.

President’s Counsel A.A.D. Silva and the retired Government Agent K.M. Ariyarathne were the other two committee members.

Nearly 350 complaints were submitted to the committee from September 19, 2005 to December 31, 2005 for consideration. Out of that 98 cases were granted approval as eligible receivers of compensation through the committee recommendations.

The recommended amount for the compensation is Rs. 6,386,500.00. The Committee received the majority of complaints from Ratnapura, Matara and Batticaloa.