Former President Maithripala Sirisena accepted the money collected from people on the streets by Sudaththa Thilakasiri, a YouTube social activist and actor, to pay as compensation for the Easter Sunday terror attack victims.

The actor had started begging for money in money tills at the Colombo Fort yesterday (17) to pay the sum of Rs. 100 million as compensation to former President Maithripala Sirisena.

He collected Rs. 1,810 as the day's collection, which he handed over to the former President.

Commenting on his official Facebook page, Sudaththa said, "Maithripala Sirisena is innocent, and he is unable to pay the fine because he doesn't have money. I went to Pettah today and poured out a tin and begged. Then I gave Maithripala the money which I collected and he accepted it." 

Former President Maithripala Sirisena earlier said that he will collect and pay the compensation to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks, as ordered by the Supreme Court, with the help of his close friends as he has no money to compensate the victims. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickerama)