News
Compensation for Easter attack victims ongoing
The Office of Reparation (OR), set up by the Prime Minister’s office to compensate Easter Sunday bomb blast victims, said that Rs283.3 million had been paid as compensation for the dead and injured. The Treasury had allocated Rs1 million per death, injury and loss of property for the year 2019.
Acting Director, K M Ananda Wijepala said that the OR had paid Rs1 million each to 189 families of the dead who have claimed the government’s promised compensation to the victims of the April 21 bomb blasts in three Catholic churches and leading hotels in Colombo leaving over 258 people dead and scores injured.
Among the 484 injured, 403 persons had been paid. This includes 34 persons granted a sum of Rs500,000 each, 22 persons Rs300,000 each, 29 persons Rs250,000 each, 12 persons Rs200,000 each, two persons Rs175,000 each, 11 persons Rs150,000 each, 21 persons Rs125,000 each, 20 persons Rs100,000 each and 245 persons less than Rs100,000 each.
In some cases, where entire families were wiped out, the OR had found it hard to determine the genuine beneficiaries, and is seeking legal advice. Only the husband, wife and parents of victims are eligible to claim.
Among those dead in the blast at the Zion Church in Batticoloa, 28 families have been paid Rs900,000 each. The balance will be paid on submitting the death certificate, he said.
Of the two employee deaths reported at the Shangrila Hotel, only the family of one victim has applied for compensation.
Out of the 43 foreigners injured, there has been a claim from a Japanese victim. The application is with the Japanese Embassy.
Mr Wijepala said the amounts were decided on the extent of injuries sustained by the victims. The victims have been requested to submit a medical report from the government doctor in attendance during the treatment period.
The OR had established payments on the scale of injury. Those whose medical reports indicated a high scale of over 70% injury were entitled to Rs500,000, and those with less than 50% were given amounts decided on by the OR. ‘It depended on the extent of the injury suffered; there were claimants with minor injuries including scratches and bruises,’ he said.
‘Those who were not satisfied with the compensation have the right to appeal and re-submit their claims with a fresh medical report from the same doctor,’ he said.
The OR said the office continues to receive claims, and these will be dealt with swiftly on a case-by-case basis. Mr Wijepala said claims may keep coming, as there still are seriously injured patients receiving treatment in the ICU.