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[June 23, 2005 - 10.00 GMT] President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday handed compensation cheques to 400 victims of political violence at the BMICH. On the recommendation of President Kumaratunga and her Cabinet the Treasury allocated Rs. 57 million to compensate victims of political violence. The President speaking at the event urged the people of Sri Lanka to unite and protect their democratic right to support political party or organization. She called on the nation to end political violence, which intensifies particularly during and after elections. The President said, “According to the Committee recommendations, these people deserve a financial compensation but that can only be a token, we do appreciate great sacrifices you made, by democratically engaging in what you believed. You believed, and I am sure you still believe your efforts would make Sri Lanka a prosperous country”. This is the first time in post independent Sri Lanka the State has decided to compensate victims of political violence. At yesterday's event the Presidential three-member Committee appointed July last year to study and recommend compensations to victims of political violence, handed over an interim report to the President. The committee entertained a total of 4,758 complaints from victims of political violence, perpetrated during the General Elections of 2001 and 2004 and recommended that 1,506 victims of election-related violence be paid compensations. “Political violence by the previous UNP regimes and the JVP has claimed more than 33,000 innocent lives in the South and until now no significant efforts have been made by any Government to compensate them” President Kumaratunga said and recalled the PA Government that came to power in 1994 ensured that not a single UNP supporter was harmed in post-election violence. “During the rule of the UNP from December 2001 to April 2004 the government turned a blind eye when its supporters went on the rampage, they were merciless on everyone who held a political view different from theirs. Several of our supporters were killed and maimed. A number of them lost all their worldly possessions; they were driven away from their work places. When I pointed these out to the then Premier Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe he was lackadaisical and lethargic to say the least. The media was no different, not a line was written or said about the gross acts of violence engineered by the State. I appeal to the media, to at least now , reveal the truth, please speak to these victims present here today and let your readers know the truth even at this late stage. We must today resolve to end this unfortunate practice of political violence, which has come to plague our society. I recall vividly even the Police did not accept any complaints, and I as President had to take action to look into the grievances of these victims. I set up a special unit which operated round the clock to record all such complaints, and then I appointed this special Presidential Committee to grant them compensation. I expect this committee to recommend to us how this unpleasant political culture could be brought to an end,” said President Kumaratunga. The President thanked the Chairman and members of the Special Presidential Committee for completing the task assigned to them within a short period. Mr. Saliya W. Mathew chaired the committee and the other two members were President's Counsel A.A. de Silva and retired Civil Servant K.M. Ariyaratne. Ministers
Maithripala Sirisena, Mangala Samaraweera, Duglous Devananda, Governor of
the Central Province Monty Gopallawa, Secretary to the President W J S
Karunaratne attended yesterday’s event.
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