NGO act to be amended

28 February 2010 02:59 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

The government has decided to amend the existing Act which deals with both local and foreign Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) in order to probe their activities and take appropriate action against them, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka told Daily Mirror online.

The Premier said that a Ministerial Committee appointed to propose amendments to the Act has already put forward a draft document which will be taken up for discussion and later implemented following the General Elections in April.

The draft document has already been sent to the Attorney General for his advice and it includes a proposal to give the government all the powers to take action against Non Governmental Organizations.

Prime Minister Wickramanayaka noted that several NGOs and INGOs were found to have acted against the sovereignty of Sri Lanka in recent times but appropriate action cannot be taken against them as the existing laws under the NGO Act are weak.

Meanwhile the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Administration which deals with NGOs, R.D Newton Perera, speaking to Daily Mirror online, said that the government also wants to probe the financial accounts of several NGOs.

He said that the government will seek to obtain details of the monthly expenditure of some NGOs as, according to him, most of the money obtained by some organizations is being used for their personal welfare and not the displaced people. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 6

Sunday, 28 February 2010 05:02 AM

Review of NGO act islong over due, however istead of a ministerial committee, it is ideal for a country like Sri Lanka to include a few proffessionals from relevant field to give more teeth to the tiger. It is also important to strike the balance between legislation & flexibility, in order for genuine NGOs / INGOs to continue their good work. If unable to reach the balance right, the consequence will be unimaginable. There must be tougher legislation & jail terms for INGOs & NGOs who manupulate the system for being strings of outside influences.

Sunday, 28 February 2010 05:25 AM

This is a prudent action as currently the Govt. is unaware of what NGOs are in the country leave alone their goals and objectives. This should have been done a decade ago.
Jan Chandra

Sunday, 28 February 2010 05:43 AM

N o
G ood
O rganizations !

Sunday, 28 February 2010 08:00 AM

We should not forget the fact that NGOs also contribute immemnsely to the national economy. They bring foreign exchange as grants, undertake social welfare and development work such as provision of housing, water, sanitary facilities, empowerement of masses, protection of environemtn at field level and in the process provide considerable employment opportunities. Had they not been in existence, I do not think we could have got over from the tsunami breakdown so soon.

Sunday, 28 February 2010 09:51 AM

Yeah. Probe the Sudu Nelum and Tharunayata Hetak NGOs.

Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:10 AM

No only NGOs deemed to be anti-government will be probed. Any NGO that support MR is welcome to do whatever they like.

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NGO act to be amended

Comments - 6

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