In the face of the damage to life and property caused by the terrorist attacks on 21st April 2019, it is the duty of the state to support the victims with rebuilding and restoring their lives to normalcy. While their loss and pain cannot be erased, every effort must be made to ensure that these citizens are provided with the best possible remedies to recover and move forward. This sheds light on the importance of reparations now more than ever.
State initiatives towards supporting victims
Cabinet Decision No. 19/1266/105/043 dated 24.04.2019 granted the following assistance for affected victims:
- One Million will be granted for each dead person and each victim with permanent disability
- A maximum amount of Rs.500,000 will be granted for each injured person (depending on the disability percentage)
- A maximum amount of Rs.5 Million will be granted for the damaged private properties based on the valuation report by the Government Chief Valuer.
Documents needed to receive reparations
The Office for Reparations has provided a list of documents necessary for victims to receive compensation.
Compensation for next-of-kin of deceased persons:
- Relief application with two copies certified by the Divisional Secretary, issued by the Office for Reparations (earlier Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries Authority). This can be obtained from the Divisional Secretariat.
- Death Certificate
- Documents to prove the relationship to the dead person (Marriage Certificate if married/ Birth Certificates of the Dependents)
- Bank Account Details (of Applicant and Dependents)
- Copies of the National Identity Card of the Applicant and Dependents
Compensations for the injured persons:
- Relief application with two copies certified by the Divisional Secretary, issued by the Office for Reparations (earlier Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries Authority). This can be obtained from the Divisional Secretariat.
- Medical Certificate – the form of the Medical Certificate can be obtained from the Divisional Secretariats.
- Birth Certificate of the Applicant
- Bank Account Details
- Copy of the Applicant’s National Identity Card
The Office for Reparations[1] identified the need to expediate the process of assisting victims and has taken measures to provide an advance payment to the victims of incidents that took place in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks.
The advance payments are to be made to the next-of-kin of the deceased person based on the Coroner’s report and the Order issued by the Magistrate in releasing the deceased body before obtaining necessary documents for compensations, with the recommendations of the Divisional Secretary.
Payments made to victims thus far
The following payments were granted to victims of the attacks. The payment percentages granted to victims vary according to the number of documents presented by them to the Office for Reparations:
Compensation for deceased persons
- 82,800,000.00 for 92 deceased persons from the Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian Church incident
- 21,200,000.00 for 27 deceased persons from the Batticaloa St. Zion Church incident
- 12,150,000.00 for 18 deceased persons from the Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Church incident
- 2,800,000.00 for 4 deceased persons from the Shangri-La Hotel incident
- 1,400,000.00 for 3 deceased persons from the Cinnamon Grand Hotel incident
- 900,000.00 for 1 deceased person from the Kingsbury Hotel incident
- 1,100,000.00 for 2 deceased persons from Dehiwala Tropical Inn incident
Compensation for injuries
- 13,425,000.00 for 137 injured persons from the Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian Church incident
- 3,675,000.00 for 35 injured persons from the Batticaloa St. Zion Church incident
- 1,300,000.00 for 4 injured persons from the Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Church incident
It is important to note that while some victims were granted an advanced payment as immediate relief measures, other victims were granted full/half compensation based on the necessary documentation provided by them.
The process of granting reparations to all victims is still underway.
For further details contact
Mr.Ananda Wijepala (Director) on +94 112575826 or Mr. J. P. Shantha Padmasiri (Assistant Director) on +94 112575831.
[1] Earlier known as the Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries Authority (or REPPIA)