Treasury allocates Rs. 100 m for trust fund for children affected by Easter Sunday bombs

Thursday, 27 June 2019 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Expects to raise another Rs. 300 m via donations
PM office says arrangements made for overseas treatment for bomb victims in need on State expense
Compensation for deceased persons already paid to next of kin

The Government yesterday decided to set up a trust fund for 33 children left disabled or orphaned due to the Easter Sunday bombings, the Prime Minister’s office announced in a statement.

A sum of Rs. 100 million has already been allocated by the Treasury for this purpose. It is expected to raise a further Rs. 300 million via external donations, the statement said. Office for Reparations will also provide assistance to these children based on individual needs. The Ministry of Health has designed a special program to assist the victims who are injured to access overseas treatment if needed on State expense, the statement further said.

The Government has also taken steps to pay Rs. 1 million as compensation for each deceased individual and a maximum of Rs. 500,000 relief package for any individual injured in the attack. Todate, the Government has paid Rs. 185 million as compensation for 189 individuals who were killed in the attacks and more than Rs. 53 million for 403 people to those who were injured. Further, reconstruction work of the three churches which were damaged due to the bomb attack; St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo and Zion Church in Batticaloa is being carried out by members of the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy with necessary funds already disbursed. Damage assessment awarding compensation for the properties affected by in communal violence during the weeks following the bomb attacks in Minuwangoda, Kuliyapitiya, Hettipola etc. has already commenced. However, until the reparation package is calculated and compensation is paid in full Office for Reparations has been advised to make advance payments to assist in recommencing affected businesses.