Easter attack: Opposition to quiz CB officials on compensation

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament last week spoke of a plan to compensate victims of the April 21 attacks by his office

The Opposition yesterday said it would meet the Central Bank (CB) officials next week to discuss the payment of compensation to victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. They were taking this step as no response had been received from the government about how they are going to undertake the process.

UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardana said they would request the CB officials to put forward a practical mechanism to compensate the victims and the industrialists who are affected as a result of the downturn in the economy in the aftermath of the attacks.

“Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament last week spoke of a plan to compensate victims of the April 21 attacks by his office. We are still not aware whether such a step has been taken. We like to know the names of the officials of this office and its clear mandate. We request the Premier to at least inform the Cardinal in this regard since the Catholic community was deeply affected by the attacks,” Gunawardana said speaking at a news briefing.

Meanwhile, he said Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera failed to a make a statement in parliament last week over compensating the victims of the attacks. “He is in Matara trying to repair the damage done to his image as a result of his utterances,” he said.