Video: NGO wings clipped

8 July 2014 02:44 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), a body functioning under the Defence Ministry, has banned NGOs from holding news conferences, workshops and training of journalists and the issuance of media releases.

The decision was taken in the aftermath of the cancellation of workshops for Journalists organised by Transparency International recently. It drew widespread condemnation from various bodies and the opposition.

The NGO Secretariat, in a letter dated July 1 has requested all NGOs in the country to refrain from indulging in such activities.

Its Director D.M.S. Dissanayake in a letter said such activities carried out by the NGOs were beyond their mandate.

“It has been revealed that certain NGOs conduct news conferences, hold workshops, train journalists, and issue news releases, which is beyond their mandate. We reiterate that all NGOs should desist from such unauthorised activities with immediate effect,” he said in his letter.

When asked for a comment on the decision, Mr. Dissanayake told Daily Mirror NGOs had only been asked not to exceed their mandate through this letter. He said his office examined all aspects such as the trustee of the NGO concerned, its funding sources, vision and mission, programme of work and the officials, before registering it.

He said intelligence reports were obtained about the officials when the NGOs applied for registration.

“We register the NGOs after all these aspects are cleared. NGOs are also required to submit their annual action plans to us for approval. We also get confirmation letters of their foreign funding agencies as well. However, we have received numerous complaints that some NGOs act in contravention of their mandate. In this letter, we have only asked 1,416 NGOs registered with us to stick to their mandate,” Mr. Dissanayake said. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 13

Fayad Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:09 AM

This is the 21 century democracy
Take it or leave it

meranchim Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:13 AM

That is very good move they are the one create lot of problems in the country.....i

George Clooney Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:19 AM

Very much afraid that the truth will come out. But it will not help.

Yakada Yaka Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:36 AM

Getting closer to a dictatorship? Time for Uncle Sam to act. Step 1: Get rid of the opposition leader and install one that can win an election.

Dinosha Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:39 AM

Where is media freedom??? What you trying to hide from all these???

lawyer Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:44 AM

So what are NGO's allowed to do now?

LMAO Tuesday, 08 July 2014 03:46 AM

demo"crazy" at its peak. another north Korea in making...

Hushaard Tuesday, 08 July 2014 04:01 AM

Amazing, we as Sri Lankans continue to live in a country like this, its getting worse everyday.

ranmal Tuesday, 08 July 2014 04:15 AM

Hook or by crook everyone should get together to send this regime home

Jesus Tuesday, 08 July 2014 05:32 AM

Game over for the sri lanken majority...

Saman Tuesday, 08 July 2014 06:17 AM

"Bahrain ejects US diplomat after he met Shiites" Yahoo news item.

Mangala Tuesday, 08 July 2014 11:13 AM

Good move. NGOs should banned in SriLanka.

Anticleon Tuesday, 08 July 2014 04:45 PM

Good move. No need of NGOs that serve the diaspora. via DM Android App

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Video: NGO wings clipped

Comments - 13

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