The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Under Section 27 of the Office for Reparations Act, No. 34 of 2018, reparations including compensation are provided to persons affected by: 1. Consequences or aftermath of armed conflicts that occurred in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka; 2. Political unrest or civil disturbances; 3. Long-term and serious harm caused to individuals, groups or communities in Sri Lanka; and 4. Persons affected by loss of life due to enforced disappearances, or damage to their property.

¶ 03 Regarding your term “mob violence”, the issue is the definition. If such incidents fall under political unrest or civil disturbances as per the above, then, in accordance with the Government’s Policy and Guidelines on Reparations published by Extraordinary Gazette on 03 March 2022, specific reparations, including financial assistance, livelihood support, and psychosocial support, are already being provided.

¶ 04 (ii) The Office for Reparations implements compensation schemes for victims of the above categories. These are not implemented with special distinctions district- or province-wise.

¶ 05 (iii) Yes.

¶ 06 (b) Does not arise.