by Wasantha Ramanayake

The Court of Appeal issued notice on members of three Task Forces under the Centre for National Operations, in a writ application filed by Dr. Lalith Kotelawala seeking to publicise details pertaining to all donations and a summary of the disbursement of the donations.

The Bench comprised Justices K. Sri Pavan and Sisira de Abrew.

Counsel Kuvera de Zoysa submitted that around 35,000 people lost their lives and one million citizens displaced due to the tsunami waves. He submitted that since December 26, many foreign governments, international donor agencies and organisations had made donations to the affected people.

He submitted that there had been many instances where such donations received by government institutions had been misappropriated, disappeared or distributed to persons not affected by the tsunami. He submitted that only a handful of such instances had been reported by the media and many would go undetected.

He argued that the respondents had access to the detailed information with regard to the aid/donations that had been received by the government, and the way they had been disbursed.

The counsel also submitted that serious doubts would be created in the minds of the affected people, public and the donors if the dealings were not fully publicised.

The petitioner also sought an order directing the respondents to entertain or accept complaints from people who were affected by the tsunami.

The notice will be returnable for March 24.