Supreme Court Summons Ex-President Sirisena Over Unpaid Compensation

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court has issued a notice to former President Maithripala Sirisena, requiring him to appear in court on April 29.

This notice pertains to the non-payment of a compensation order related to the Royal Park murder case.

The court's directive follows the annulment of the presidential pardon granted to Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Yvonne Johnson in 2005.

The Supreme Court had previously ordered Sirisena to pay Rs 1 million in compensation within a month, a directive that has not yet been fulfilled.

The Supreme Court's decision came after a petition filed by the Women and Media Collective was examined on June 6 of the previous year.

The court concluded that the pardon granted by Sirisena was unconstitutional and thus invalidated it.

The bench, which delivered the verdict, determined that the presidential pardon violated fundamental human rights.

Consequently, Sirisena was ordered to pay the compensation as a remedy for this violation.

During the latest hearing, President's Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, representing the petitioners, informed the court that Sirisena had not yet paid the compensation.

The court has now summoned Sirisena to explain the reasons for his non-compliance and to present any arguments against potential penalties for failing to adhere to the court's order.

Jude Shramantha Jayamaha was convicted and sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal in 2012 for the murder of 19-year-old Yvonne Johnson at the Royal Park luxury apartment complex in Rajagiriya on June 30, 2005.

In 2019, Sirisena granted him a presidential pardon, which was later annulled by the Supreme Court on June 6 of 2024.