No restrictions on NGOs in N-E

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday reiterated that it has not imposed any restrictions or control on NGOs operating in North-East areas.

The Defence Authorities only wanted an account on the assets pertaining to NGOs operating the North-East areas and gave August 31 as the deadline to submit their details and register with the Defence Ministry, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday.

Some NGOs have fled from North due to escalating violence in the North.

Therefore the Government has a right to obtain details on these NGOs. If these NGOs leave their offices in North-East areas, they should inform the Security Forces, he said.

According to the Minister, if NGOs leave without informing the Security Forces, there is a possible threat of their institutions and assets coming under the control of terrorists. Finally such NGOs will put the blame on the Government.

Having considered the situation, the Government has requested all NGOs operating in North-East areas to submit a detailed report. However, certain media has misinterpreted this request to the effect Government is attempting to impose restrictions on NGOs operating in North-East, he said.

"The Government has not imposed any restrictions on these NGOs preventing their humanitarian activities. What actually happened is that these NGOs have pledged the North-East areas due to increasing violence situation."

The Minister said that in a conflict, the NGOs should conduct their humanitarian mission in Jaffna and other North-East areas to look after the people in these conflict affected areas. It is aware that some NGOs in the North-East are working with terrorists.

According to Minister when the tsunami struck, so many NGOs rushed to Sri Lanka pledging nearly US$ 30 billion. But not even 15 per cent of these pledges have been fulfilled. At present some NGOs are not even active in Sri Lanka.