Western Province (NA): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

The Kalutara South Police arrested two persons for transporting more than 10 kilograms of ammonium nitrate without permits on January 5, reports Colombo Page. The raid was carried out on information received by the Panadura Division Criminal Investigation Division officials that a consignment of explosives was being transported. During the raid, a three-wheeler was seized near the expressway bridge in the Ukwatta area of Kalutara South police division and the police seized 10 kilograms and 380 grams of ammonium nitrate being transported in the vehicle. Read less...

The Supreme Court on January 12, ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay a compensation amount of SLR 100 million as damages to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks, reports Daily Mirror. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardhane were ordered to pay SLR 75 million each as compensation. Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay SLR 50 million and former Chief National Intelligence Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay SLR 10 million. The Supreme Court pronounced this judgement while announcing the decision on 12 petitions filed by the victims claiming that their basic human rights were violated by not taking steps to prevent the Easter attack despite receiving the intelligence information prior to the attack. Read less...

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) called on Sri Lanka to establish a follow-up independent investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks in April 2019, with international assistance and stated that Sri Lanka must also fully compensate victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, The Colombo Gazette reports on January 18. The UNHRC reiterated its recommendations to the Government of Sri Lanka to release the complete findings of previous inquiries into the Easter Sunday bombings and to establish a follow-up independent, thorough and transparent investigation with international assistance and the full participation of victims and their representatives and to hold all those responsible fully to account. Earlier on January 12, the Supreme Court ordered the former President Maithripala Sirisena and three other senior officials to compensate the families of the victims because they had failed to prevent the tragedy despite receiving prior information. Read less...