Govt. to pay compensation for dead and injured

The Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s instructions has set apart Rs. 3 million for immediate payment of compensation to the victims of the LTTE bomb blast in Okkampitiya, Buttala yesterday.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Minister Rishard Bathiudeen who vehemently condemned the gruesome LTTE blast targeting innocent civilians travelling in a bus, said: “With the concurrence of the President arrangements are already under way to pay compensation to those killed and wounded in the bomb blast at third Mile Post, Okkampitiya Buttala”.

The Minister said Rs. 3 million has already been set apart by the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry to pay compensation through the District Secretary, Moneragala.

It is the government’s policy to pay a maximum of Rs. 100,000 per person to the next of kin of a person killed and Rs. 50,000 per person to those injured.

Initially as an immediate relief measure, Rs. 25,000 each will be paid to the next of kin of an unmarried person killed and Rs. 50,000 to the next of kin of a married person killed due to the blast.

In addition, Rs. 15,000 is to be paid to the immediate family members as funeral expenses to each person killed.

An injured person will receive Rs. 10,000 each. Instructions have already been issued to the District Secretary, Moneragala, to effect the balance compensation payments immediately on receipt of death certificates of those victims who succumbed to their injuries, the Minister said.

The Minister also expressed his condolences to the families of the dead and wished speedy recovery to the injured.