I have to pay Rs. 100 mn over no fault of mine: Maithripala

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today he has had to pay a compensation of Rs. 100 million to victims of Easter Sunday attacks not because of his fault but because the officials appointed by him had not carried out their responsibility properly.

Sirisena told Parliament that the Supreme Court ruling had clearly observed that he, as the then President, had not been informed of the intelligence information on the Easter Attacks by the responsible officials.

He said the Supreme Court had also observed that the President should take the responsibility for any offences committed by any official appointed by him and that he had to pay compensation only on that basis.

He said some of his political opponents claim that it was a fine of Rs. 100 million.However he added it was not a fine but a compensation.

He said it was not a new situation for any official or a President to pay a compensation and added that former President Chandrika Kumaratunge also had to pay Rs. 350,000 with regard to a case involving Waters Edge hotel.

The Former President said he respected the court decision and said however, he did not have the economic power to pay Rs. 100 million and that he would have to raise the fund from his wellwishers. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)