Notices ordered on Gota, others in FR petition on Aragalaya compensation payment

Colombo, Jan. 28 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today directed notices to be served on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several others over a Fundamental Rights petition seeking an investigation into the compensation payments made for property damages caused during the attacks and violence that occurred on May 9, 2022.

The petition has been filed by Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, naming former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, General (Retd) Shavendra Silva, former Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and several other state officials as respondents.

When the matter was taken up before the Supreme Court, the Court was informed that several respondents, including the former President, had not yet been served with notices.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court directed that notices be issued and fixed the petition for further consideration on May 8.

The petitioner maintained that any compensation paid in relation to the incidents in question must be subject to a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that such payments were distributed fairly, without favoritism, political affiliation or any other undue influence.

The petitioner states that he is gravely concerned that the Government has disbursed substantial public funds as compensation without taking adequate steps to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. 

The petitioner states that on or about February 5, 2025, Minister of Health and then Government Spokesman, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, presented a report to Parliament, detailing compensation payments amounting to Rs. 1.22 billion made to 43 individuals, including certain politicians, for damages caused to their properties during illegal attacks and violence carried out by groups of wrongdoers on or around May 9, 2022.

The petitioner stated that Dr. Jayathissa had accused former Members of Parliament of exploiting their influence to secure compensation payouts far exceeding standard compensation limits.