GOSL pays compensation to Ma'nalaa'ru injured

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 February 2008, 13:18 GMT]
Rishad Bathiyutheen, Minister of Resettlement & Disaster Relief Services, on the directions of Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), forwarded compensation funds Tuesday to senior officials for distribution to the victims of Monday bomb blast in Ma'nalaa'ru .

The Minister instructed Premlal Dissanayake, Chief Minister (CM) North Central Province (NCP), and Tissa Haraliyadde, Minister for Indigenous Medicine, to visit the homes of those killed as well as the hospitals where the wounded have been admitted and hand over the payments.

The payments were distributed Tuesday, Mr.Bathiyutheen said.

Government's policy is to pay a maximum of Rs.100, 000/- per person killed to the next of kin and Rs.50, 000/- per person to those injured. As an immediate relief measure, Rs.50, 000/- was paid to the next of kin of person killed and Rs.10, 000/- to the injured, immediately after the incident. Based on the medical reports of the injured, balance of the compensation will be made, Minister Bathiyutheen said.

At least thirteen people were killed and twenty wounded in the bomb attack including two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers when a powerful bomb tore a bus which was plying between Pathaviya and Sri Pura in Ma'nalaa'ru area on the eve of 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence.