The Government has decided to closely monitor all Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and has initiated measures to take action relating to activities of \u2018certain civil society organizations\u2019 which are acting against the State.<\/p>\n
The Government has also decided to scrap the abbreviation \u2018NGOs\u2019 and replace it with CSOs , an abbreviation for Civil Society Organizations, and will establish CSO Councils in every district and secretariat division islandwide.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Ceylon Today, National Co-existence Dialogue & Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan, under whom the subjects of NGOs anJustice Minister Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe\u2019s statement that there was the possibility of certain civil society organizations acting against the interests of the State and manipulating with funds meant for community projects.<\/p>\n
Minister Ganesan noted that his Ministry is now conducting two separate investigations into two such NGOs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I am provided with specific facts I will act according to the facts in complaints. But I can\u2019t generalize on such a policy and say that most NGOs are functioning against the State and the objectives of reconciliation and close them down,\u201d Minister Ganesan added.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the Justice Minister\u2019s suggestion to introduce fresh regulations to govern these NGOs, Minister Ganesan noted that he does not see any serious reason to endorse it as \u2018regulations\u2019 but rather call it \u2018facilitations\u2019 as long as they (NGOs) meet legal requirements to operate in their stated agendas.<\/p>\n
On Rajapakshe\u2019s statement that some NGOs are detrimental to national reconciliation and religious harmony, Ganesan urged Rajapakshe to get him the facts as he notes that there are more hindrances to national coexistence from religious and political forces.<\/p>\n
The minister noted that he has given strict instructions to the Director-General of the NGO secretariat and the staff under him to consider NGOs and INGOs as partners in State building.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose Civil Society organizations which stood with us in the heydays of national change\u2026 well, I was there all along with the Civil Monitoring Commission, \u2018Vipakshaya Virodaya\u2019 and \u2018Samagi Peramuna\u2019. In fact, I played a significant role in that struggle from way back in 2005 with Raviraj, Lasantha, Bahu, Siritunga, Britto, Nimalka, Priyani when even some traditional CSOs and politicians backed out in fear. I can\u2019t drop or ignore those which stood with us. I would call them Civil Society Organizations (CSO) rather than NGOs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ganesan noted that on the subject of regulating the NGOs, \u201d Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe must be having his own reasons. But I don\u2019t want to use the word, \u2018Regulation\u2019 but \u2018Facilitation\u2019.<\/p>\n
He said after he took office and the National Secretariat for NGOs was brought under his Ministry, he has taken very many steps to restore an equilibrium in the perceptions about NGOs which were \u201d considered as \u2018traitors\u2019 and the INGOs were considered as \u2018enemies\u201d. That was how it was at that time.<\/p>\n
He said he has received the blessings of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for this mission and that President Sirisena has also urged them at Cabinet meetings to get all the forces together to build the country. Taking the clue, I am now establishing nation-wide, district-wide, division-wide CSO councils.<\/p>\n
He said that even some CSOs misunderstood this approach. Noting that it is an independent network, he said his ministry was only doing the facilitation part.<\/p>\n
\u201d I am going to get them official placements in the district and divisional DCC meetings to have their say in development and nation building affairs with elected representatives and State officials. We require all actors including civil society forces at every DCC meeting, where decisions are made on the spending of State funds. This will reduce levels of corruption, waste, mismanagement and identify the priorities of the poor masses.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stressed that there are wrongdoers in Parliament and violators among State officials, security forces and Police. We will identify them and clean the institutions in the best interests of the State. But we can\u2019t generalize such policies and close or dissolve Parliament, Police, and security forces and dismiss State officials at random. This is a country and not a kingdom but a people\u2019s republic. We need these institutions in republican democracy.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Ceylon Today<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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