Govt. will bear expenses of overseas treatment for terror attack victims : PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (Jun 25) said the government would bear the full expenses of overseas treatment required by Easter Sunday attack victims.

Addressing an event organised by the National Peace Council at the BMICH, Mr. Wickremesinghe observed that compensation is being granted to the victims through the Office for Reparations.

At present, a compensation of Rs 1 million is granted on behalf of every person who was killed in the attacks while those injured are being granted Rs 500,000. A sum of Rs 250 million has been allocated for this purpose, the Prime Minister noted.

Mr. Wickremesinghe also pointed out the need to establish a inter-religious council to resolve ethnic issues in the country."If religious leaders provide their advice then the relevant legislation could be passed to establish an inter-religious council," he said.

The Prime Minister also appreciated those who had provided information regarding the group behind the Easter Sunday bombings. 

On the same lines, he appreciated the support extended by the Muslims in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. "The Muslim community had called for laws to regulate Madrasas even before we asked them to do so," the Premier said.