NGOs should be accountable to Parliament - Minister

Priyanka KURUGALA

Certain European countries that savour the LTTE, including USA, UK, and Norway are supplying funds to certain Non Governmental Organizations in Sri Lanka, to topple the Government at any time which they felt necessary. They have funded 200 million US Dollars to these NGOs, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

He was addressing a press conference at the National Library Services Board yesterday. Even though foreign finance will come they should present details of such to Parliament.

Without the knowledge or approval of the Parliament, no one should be allowed to spend the money, he added.

Those NGOs are trying to devalue country's sovereignty in collaboration with some western countries.

Even though there are patriotic and service oriented NGOs a few are conspiring to destabilize the country.

NGOs should be accountable to the Finance Ministry and Parliament.

Funds may come through genuine sources , but they should be reported to the Exchange Control Department and also to Parliament through the finance Ministry.

During the British colonial rule, they had exploited country's national resources.

They had destroyed agriculture, environment and roads across irrigation reservoirs.

They killed about one hundred thousand people (10 percent of the population at the time).

They destroyed half of the 80 percent of the forests.

They never apologized.

The Government should not allow dubious foreign funds coming in without Government approval, the minister said.

Kurunegala district JHU. Candidate M. S. Jayarathna , JHU. Media Spokesman Nishantha Warnasinghe were also present.