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| Thursday, 13 May 2004 |
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| Rs.722 million compensation for communal violence victims by Manjula Fernando The government yesterday approved a sum of Rs. 722 million to grant compensation to Tamils who were victims of communal violence from 1981 to 1985. Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Reginald Cooray said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga presented the Cabinet paper yesterday to obtain funds to implement the recommendations of the 'Truth Commission' that inquired into the incidents of 1981-1985 communal clashes, especially the communal riots in 1983. The Commission has identified 946 cases to be eligible for compensation out of 2276 cases presented before them for inquiry. "A large number of Tamils were affected during these times, but the reigning Government failed to make arrangements to pay some sort of compensation for the distressed, which is a responsibility of any administration," the Minister said, adding that in the past all prevailing Governments have implemented relief measures and compensation schemes during terrorist attacks and other disasters and this was the only time that such a measure was bypassed. The Cabinet of Ministers has also decided to table the list of people affected in these clashes in Parliament shortly. A 'national day of reconciliation' is to be declared shortly to indicate the nation's regret. |
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