Payment of death compensation to Sri Lankans

COLOMBO: The Lebanese Government will pay Lebanese pounds 100 million to the next-of-kin of five Sri Lankans killed during a conflict in Lebanon last year.

During the conflict in Lebanon last year, following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by the Hisbullah militant group, many Sri Lankans were stranded in Lebanon and more than 6,000 Sri Lankans repatriated under the sponsorship of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Vijitha Mallika Liyana Gamage, Mihottige Ruwini Shashika Perera, Joseph Ranjani, Kandappuge Asoka Ranjani and Jayakody Arachchige Kalyani were killed. Their bodies were buried in Lebanon in consultation with the victims’ families.

The Lebanese Government decided to pay compensation to families of the Lebanese victims killed during the air attacks.

On the instruction of the Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Lebanon, M.M.A. Farouque held talks with the authorities of the Lebanese Government and negotiated a settlement of payment of compensation to the families of Sri Lankan victims as well.

In pursuance of this decision, the Lebanese Government agreed to pay Lebanese Pounds 100 million to the next-of-kin of all five victims, which is equivalent to Sri Lankan Rs. 7, 400, 924. 70.

Each family of the Sri Lankan victims receive Rs. 1,480, 184.94. The Sri Lanka Mission in Lebanon collected the money on behalf of the victims’ families and sent it to the Foreign Minister.

It was formally handed over today to the Public Trustee J.M.J.P. Bandara by Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama at a ceremony at the Ministry, to be distributed among the legal heirs of the victims, as per Government regulations, in the presence of the families of the Sri Lankan victims.

The Minister thanked the Lebanese Government for their gesture on behalf of the Government and the victims’ families and also appreciated the prompt action taken by the Sri Lanka Mission in Lebanon.

Compensation amounting to Rs. 3, 631, 480.00 was also paid to the next-of-kin of Pradeep Kumara Duwage, who died in an accident in Dubai in 2004.

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister, Hussein A. Bhaila, who is in charge of consular affairs and welfare matters of Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East, Additional Secretary (Consular and Administration), C.F. Chinniah, Director-General/Middle East and Africa, I. Ansar, and Director-General/Consular Affairs, R. P. Jayasooriya of the Foreign Ministry.