A number of foreign non governmental
organisations, which had signed agreements with the government
to reconstruct houses and schools in the Ampara district, have
left the country, according to the Housing Ministry mission
unaccomplished.
These NGO’s having collected large funds, from
their respective countries and other donors, had gone back on
their agreements and slipped out to Pakistan where they are now
engaged in fraudulent activities.
Minister of Housing and Construction Industry,
Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development Ferial
Ashraff told The Island that the government had signed
agreements with 25 NGOs to construct houses for tsunami-affected
people and the government was also able to provide them the
relevant plans and land required.
Minister Ashraff pointed out that these NGOs
with collection of huge donations from their respective
countries had come to Sri Lanka on the pretext of doing
construction work and had deceived the government.
She also said that up to now although 12,500
houses were needed in the Amapara district, construction work
had commenced on only 1,200 houses. She added that tsunami-hit
people who had been living in transitional houses had fallen
into despondency.
Minister Ashraff said that these bogus NGOs with
a great deal of collected donations had left Sri Lanka for
Pakistan and were reported to have engaged in fraudulent
activities disgracing their countries.
Referring to the NGOs activities, Minister
Ashraff noted that it was the bounden duty of the government to
provide permanent shelter to tsunami victims and the Government
would have no alternative but to sign new agreements with
organisations interested in humanitarian work. She also said the
selection of NGOs for humanitarian activities should be done
with transparency and accountability.
