Families of 4,057 Forces personnel compensated

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday the Government had paid compensation in respect of 4,006 Army, 35 Navy and 16 Air Force personnel who died in military operations from January 2008 to March 31, 2009.

The Minister said Rs. 75,000 has been paid to the dependants of unmarried Security Forces personnel while Rs. 150,000 has been paid as compensation to dependants of married Security Forces personnel.

Of the Security Forces who died within the period mentioned, compensation has to be paid to dependants of 127 Army and two Air Force personnel.

Asked for the reason for the delay in the payment of relevant compensation, the Minister said there is no delay in the payment of compensations. However, there were delays in payments in special cases due to legal problems arising from polygamous incidents of certain deceased Army personnel and outsiders posing as dependants.

The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by JVP MP Pemasiri Manage.