Errant NGOs to be expelled

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

The Parliamentary Select Committee probing the misuse of tsunami funds plans to blacklist such organisations and expel them from Sri Lanka.

The Select Committee has found that 256 NGOs have collected Rs. 40 billion to arrest the Sri Lankan tsunami victims.
Of the Rs. 40 billion, Rs. 28 billion have been collected by 30 major NGOs. But they have not done any substantial work even after 20 months, Committee Chairman Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Observer.

“One hundred and eighty schools were damaged. Only 20 have been reconstructed. Even after 20 months still 40,000 families are languishing in temporary shelter”, he said.

The Voluntary Social Service Organisation (Registration and Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980 is also to be amended. According to the Act blacklisted NGOs can be fined only up to Rs. 750.

“Now we are in the process of collecting reports from the District Secretaries, Government Agents and Divisional Secretaries as the performance of the NGOs”, Herath said.