Wed, 24 Apr 2024 Today's Paper

Diaspora not doing enough for NE

5 June 2012 02:39 am - 34     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership had ignored a request by some party members and parliamentarians to form an NGO to raise funds from the Tamil Diaspora to help war affected people in the North and East, former MP M.K. Sivajilingam said.
 
Now the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) political leader, he said this request was made soon after the war ended in 2009 but the TNA leadership had not responded positively.  
 
Mr. Sivajilingam also charged that the Tamil Diaspora had not made sufficient investments in the two provinces so that the war-affected people would have better livelihood opportunities.
 
He said the Tamil people living abroad had sufficient funds for investment here but unfortunately they had not done so.
 
Wanni district MPs Vino Noharathalingam and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Jaffna district MP Suresh Premachandran and former MP N. Srikantha had been among those who stressed the need for such a Non Governmental Organisation.  
 
 “Now, three years have lapsed after the war ended. The Diaspora should make investments here by putting up garment factories or livestock farms. Then, people can get jobs. There are instances of people trying to re-cultivate their lands. But that is not enough to resuscitate the war devastated North,” he said. 
 
When asked about development work carried out by the government, he said the government was focusing only on developing the road network.
 
“It is good to develop the road system.  But, something more should be done to improve the people’s living conditions,” he said.  
 
When asked about it, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said though some people talked about it, there was no formal request for such an NGO. However, he said that the TNA is giving mind to it.
 
He said he had requested the Diaspora to help the affected people in the post war period .(Kelum Bandara)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 34

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Kondebandapucheena Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:10 AM

    They haven't done anything to Tamils other than funding LTTE,

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:11 AM

    Dinruta, Government also has same suspicion like you. But, our government is vigilant and taking much more measures to tackle replace into conflict again and avoid militant activities. Anyhow, we all should find the way and means to develop our country and make better life to affected people and rest. It is our nation and Tamil Diaspora also our part. So we will encourage them to spend their money for our country development.

    shanker Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:22 AM

    What is the ROI in these projects ?

    kumar Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:51 AM

    If it is the case, your don't have to remove. UN will take care!

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:55 AM

    If you mean Return on Investment (RON) it can explain in following ways;
    1. Assisting to war affected society: It is just helping projects for the resettlement, reintegration and access of basic needs (socioeconomic).
    2. Investment in economy: You invest your money on development projects and you can get or return on investment. For it, government should ensure the RON of investors.

    Nan Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:53 AM

    Very true..

    Vijitha Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:49 AM

    Do not expect diaspora money for development they only helf for shed blood

    NIv Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:06 AM

    so what is the purpose of humanitarian war? just to evacuate people and beg from diaspora? i though evacuate people from LTTE and provide better life. but now seems evacuated and gave up in the road and tamils lost even what they had under ltte. really funny, still asking from diaspora... what happened to money borrowed from all the countries by the name of N&E development? LOL

    ravi Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:47 AM

    If the government can return all our gold money land and the freedom taken from us end of war we don’t need any help from both side.

    raj Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:25 AM

    Good Idea!

    raj Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:27 AM

    RON ? I though the abbreviation for Return on Investments is ROI

    Sam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:03 PM

    Security for diaspora visiters should be guranteed.
    Recently, a canadian tamil went to kilinochi to reclaim his business property and found that it had been 'sold' by the army to Cargills. He met the local army commander and was about to meet the defence secretary, when he was abducted, tortured,mutilated and killed.
    Police have arrested four innocent tamils but no case yet as there is no evidence against them.

    saman Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:06 PM

    diaspora knows only how to bark!

    Nodrog Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:06 PM

    Hey Buffaloa, do we have a choice. Can we pick which fool from the diaspora?

    Sarwan Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:12 PM

    Remove the army camps to enhance the diaspora to feel that they belong there. Now it is a miltary occupied colony of SL

    nihu Tuesday, 05 June 2012 04:46 AM

    fortget all comments - please we all work towards for better meath of poor tamil people in N & E.

    Ranger Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:00 AM

    Building super highways and concrete sub roads is all this Government can crow about. There is a shortage of around 100 secondary schools in the Country. Will the Diaspora help in this way in the North and East - No way.

    Mayu Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:34 AM

    "Not enough" is the constant factor in everybody's life.

    Nodrog Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:34 AM

    If the diaspora's energies, efforts and finances are channeled towards re-building the NE instead of staging insignificant protests and demonstrations the development can be easily accomplished and make the NE even better than Colombo. But if that happens then many refugees living an easy life on the dole will be sent back.

    karikalan1 Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:34 AM

    Yes, remove the Army camps, paramilitary thugs, re-instate civil administration, then I will help.

    sam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:55 AM

    we will not remove the army if your people starve to death

    dinruta Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:56 AM

    to train terrorists ???

    Countryman Tuesday, 05 June 2012 04:14 AM

    Everything is for North and East. How about us in the other areas? We should also must ask for a similar fund for relief from Sinhala Diaspora.

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 04:25 AM

    Mr. Karikalan1, you ideas are good but it will take some to reach your point. Anyhow, you people (Diaspora) should think about difficulties and weakness of the affected Tamils. You should help them to improve their life though your wealthy situation in your host country. Normalcy will return in future. So you can help to local Tamils rather confront with government.

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 03:05 AM

    Well said! It is important juncture to invite Diaspora to invest and help for reconstruction of war affected areas. It will helpful to promote life of the vulnerable people in the North and East.

    buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 05:07 AM

    The diapora is a product of 1956, 1977, 1983 riots and other mutinies, criminality and harrassment conducted by sinhalese on tamils. Given the level of sheer corruption and continued arrogance in finding a just solution and compromise to the tamil issue by the present regime, which fool of the diaspora would want to invest in such a nation.

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 05:10 AM

    Thousands of North-East people are suffering without the access of basic needs. War and weapons usage had damaged heath of the people. Incensed number of mentally affected people and many addicted to alcohol. Women headed families increased in number and without the income, some ladies try to earn through illegal ways to safeguard their children. Suicide rate is also very high due to this situation. Is Diaspora only for demonstration? What they did for post-war reconstruction and improve the life of the people. It is easy to demonstrate but difficult to spend money for innocent people

    Real peacea Tuesday, 05 June 2012 05:16 AM

    There should be a political settlement, normalcy and law & order to encourage the Tamil Diaspora to invest.

    raj Tuesday, 05 June 2012 05:36 AM

    Starve to death? careful what you wish for, it will come to you.

    raj Tuesday, 05 June 2012 05:39 AM

    Why only the Diaspora? what is the Government doing? Isn't it the reponsibilty of the Government look after its people. Just like Sinhala people having the right to live in any part of the country, the Tamil people do also have the right to seek Government assistance in the post-war reconstruction.

    NIv Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:01 AM

    yes, i think so. let the diaspora to handle directly.they will.. Ranger, ask your politicians to not to put their leg or ask commission from diaspora.. then they will do better than any gov.

    Faz Tuesday, 05 June 2012 06:05 AM

    Aftermath of the civil war, Diasporas have contributed lots for reconstruction and development of the countries in the several parts of the world. To encourage Tamil Diaspora to assist to affected Tamils, and reconstruction and development of the state can possible through;
    • Government can ensure Diasporas security and safeguard to enter and spend their economy towards Sri Lanka.
    • Diaspora may not like to assist through government channel. So, form NGOs or Civil Society organization(s) to formulate and implement development projects
    • Conduct need assessment in affected areas.
    • Proper monitoring system from beginning to end of the projects.
    In addition to that President Mahinda Rajapakse (Dailymirror online 2011) “says that the Diaspora could contribute in a significant manner towards the development in the North”. It is a positive shine.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment




Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka