Maithripala tells court he paid compensation to Royal Park case victims

• The former President was ordered to be released by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, through his lawyer, informed the Supreme Court yesterday that he has paid the required compensation to the victims of the Royal Park murder case.  

President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, appearing for the former President, informed the court that his client had already paid one million rupees in compensation to the victims.  

Accordingly, the former President was ordered to be released by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Janak de Silva.  

They had earlier issued notices to former President Maithripala Sirisena, requiring him to show cause for his failure to pay the compensation awarded to the victims of the Royal Park murder case.  

On June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a Presidential pardon to Royal Park murder convict Don Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha was arbitrary and invalid in law. The Court further directed the Attorney General and all relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to arrange Jayamaha’s extradition, as he is considered a convict on death row.  

The Women & Media Collective organization had filed this Fundamental Rights petition challenging the legality of former President Sirisena’s decision to grant the Presidential pardon to the Royal Park murder convict. It was revealed that Jude Jayamaha fled the country shortly after receiving the pardon.  

On November 29, 2019, the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent Don Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha from leaving the country, without court permission. However, it was revealed that Jayamaha had left the country soon after the Presidential pardon was granted.