EU asks Lanka to guaratee freedom for functioning of NGOs

Activist burned govr circuler

The European Union today asked Sri Lanka to guarantee the freedom for functioning of NGOs, days after the government imposed restrictions on their activities.  A statement from the EU of Sri Lanka said they were very concerned about the recent efforts to restrict legitimate public activities of civil society and non-governmental organisations in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: One more restriction on NGOs; No funds without Govt approval

Sri Lanka: NGos protest restrictions

No foreign funds without approval: Ministry

The Finance and Planning Ministry has informed all Non-Governmental Organisations that they should receive prior approval from the Ministry prior to obtaining foreign funds. The notice comes hot on the heels of the Government strongly criticising the foreign aid programme carried out by USAID.  It had planned to provide US$190 million dollars for a programme titled, Election Support Through Voter Education (ESVE)' but later withdrew it following protests.

Sri Lanka: The Ministry of Defence should not have any power over the functioning of any civil society organisations

SRI LANKA: AHRC’s position on the proposed law for NGO registration under the Ministry of Defence

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to clarify its position regarding the controversy about the government’s proposal for a law to force the registration of non-governmental organisations with a National Secretariat functioning under the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

Sri Lanka: The art of mishandling policy; From Aluthgama, to asylum seekers, NGOs, the Govt. wallows in (negative) publicity

President in trouble ( AFP)

Ranga Jayasuriya
There is something strange in this government. It is wallowing in negative publicity. The sequence of events during the last couple of weeks has given it a steady supply of negative publicity which would prop up its already grim reputation. First, it lets loose a motley group of Sinhala Buddhist ultra nationalist groups such as Bodu Bala Sena, Sinhala Ravaya, Ravana Balaya and so on. Then, the marauding mobs and youth instigated by hate filled sermons, went on rampage in Aluthgama, triggering a sectarian confrontation – the first major clash between the Sinhalese and Muslims since 1915.

Sri Lanka: Writing on the wall for errant INGOs, NGOs - State media

Editorial, The Sunday Observer

Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and their funding agents in International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) have acted in the most unbecoming manner in Sri Lanka. They even played a sinister role during Sri Lanka's relentless battle against terrorism from 2006 till mid-2009.

Sri Lanka: Bank Accounts of NGOs not registered with MOD are to be closed

Under me - Gotabhaya

New laws to control NGOs

The government is to incorporate new laws to register all not-for-profit or non-profit organizations (NPOs) as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. The ministry charged that NPOs presently registered under the Sri Lanka Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 are acting out the role of NGOs. Director/Registrar of the National Secretariat for NGOs, D. M. Saman Dissanayake, speaking to Ceylon Today, observed that according to the new Act any organization that does not register with the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development will have their bank accounts closed and obtaining foreign funds will also be expressly forbidden.

Sri Lanka: BASL slams MOD circular to NGOs

MOD letterSri Lanka’s leading lawyers collective has slammed the circular issued to Non-Governmental Organisations by the National Secretariat for NGOs, under the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says the said circular violates fundamental principles that govern Sri Lanka’s free and democratic society, which is guaranteed by the constitution.

Sri Lanka: Enemy at the Gates; Targeting Freedom of Expression

K.D.C.Kumarage

"It is clear that the freedom of expression and opinion is a fundamental right, the mother of all rights." - Abid Hussain, UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Information, Speech in Sri Lanka, 1999.

A notice has been issued by one D.M.S, Dissanayake as the director/registrar of the NGO Secretariat in a letterhead of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development warning the NOGs that they are acting beyond their mandates by conducting press conferences and workshops, training journalists and disseminating press releases.

Sri Lanka: PM says NGOs had armed the LTTE

Prime Minister D M Jayaratna says some Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) had armed and assisted the LTTE during the war. The Prime Minister made this comment when speaking in Parliament today on the controversy over the circular issued by the NGO Secretariat of the Ministry of Defence. Jayaratna insisted that the Government was not violating the constitution or human rights through the circular which was sent to all the registered NGOs this week.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Ministry Says Ban On NGOs Is A Reiteration Of Existing Laws

The External Affairs Ministry has stated that the ban on NGOs imposed by the government is nothing but a reiteration of existing rules and regulations pertaining to non-governmental organizations.

Explaining the legal background pertaining to NGOs, the External Affairs Ministry said,” all NGOs registered with the NGO Secretariat are liable to submit annual Action Plans containing details of the activities which would be undertaken in the forthcoming year for approval.”

Warning to NGOs: MOD says no warning only reminder

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) today played down the instructions issued to Non-Governmental Organisations on the need to stick to their mandate. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that the instructions were issued as a mere reminder and it was nothing new. “This is not a strengthening of regulations,” Brigadier Wanigasooriya added.He said that there are 1416 NGOs registered in Sri Lanka and all of them follow a set of regulations which have been in place for several years.

Sri Lanka: UN is to study MOD warning to NGOs

Farhan Haq

Farhan Haq The United Nations (UN) says it will study a warning issued by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) not to go beyond their mandate. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon, said that the UN will need to evaluate the warning and then make a statement. An MOD letter sent to NGOs notes that some of them conduct press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases which is beyond their mandate. “We reiterate that all Non Governmental Organizations should prevent from such unauthorized activities with immediate effect,” the letter said.Some NGOs have raised concerns over the letter issued by the Ministry of Defence. (Colombo Gazette)

Sri Lanka: MOD warning to NGOs: MOD has overstepped its mandate

FMM public meeting

It’s no-go for NGOs! by  Dharisha Bastians
 Sri Lanka’s powerful Defence Ministry has sought to outlaw press conferences and media statements by Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the country, sparking a civil society outcry about an attempt to impinge upon freedoms of speech and assembly.

 A circular issued by the National Secretariat for NGOs, which operates under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development said certain NGOs were “acting beyond their mandate” by holding press conferences and workshops.

Sri Lanka bans NGOs engaging in public communications and conducting training

SLB

The Government of Sri Lanka has banned Non Governmental Organisations holding press conferences, couducting work shops, issuing press releases ect. This act amount to clear violation of number of fundermantal rights, including right to information, freedom of expression.Number of NGOs told Sri Lanka Breif that theywill chellenge the circuler in courts.

Here is the circuler in question:

Sri Lanka: New [ visa] regulations for foreign invitees for non state orgnisation funtions

President Rajapaksa's Code is an eight-page memorandum [presented] by External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris. It calls for significant changes. He has said that the NGO Secretariat (now coming under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development) and the Registrar of Companies will be tasked “with clearing NGO requests on hosting events and arranging necessary visas for the participants.” He has proposed “to designate a focal point at the NGO Secretariat and the Registrar of Companies in order to streamline the visa process.”

US funds projects to undermine the government says Defence Secretary Gotabhaya

Ahead of Presidential polls:  Govt. troubled by US-funded project

The government would investigate local NGOs involved in an unprecedented US project meant to influence the electorate ahead of national level elections next year, a senior government spokesman said yesterday.

Sri Lanka: New laws against NGOs should not be a witch-hunt

Editorial - Ceylon Today

The government is mooting new laws to monitor funds received by local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). At his regular breakfast meeting with newspaper editors on Thursday, responding to a question by a newspaper editor, the President revealed plans to formulate the new law. He said under the laws that existed before 1977, NGOs were obliged to reveal the origins of their funds and how they were spent. The pre-1977 era, however, does not deserve glorification. It was a period that the once promising economy of this country lost its mettle under the grip of the misguided Statist policies of the United Front Government.

Key UN expert group urged world governments to allow human rights organisations and individuals to engage with the UN "without fear of intimidation or reprisals"

Without cooperation from States, we cannot do our work for human rights - Key UN expert group

 

GENEVA (10 December 2013) - The largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system today urged world governments to cooperate with them, and allow human rights organisations and individuals to engage with the UN "without fear of intimidation or reprisals."

ACF, a charity accuses Sri Lanka over 'heinous' aid workers massacre

France's Action Against Hunger (ACF) on Tuesday accused Sri Lankan security forces of killing 17 aid workers in cold blood and then organising a cover-up of what it termed a "heinous" war crime.
In a report due to be made public later in the day, the charity said it has proof that Sri Lankan army, navy and police personnel were implicated in the August 4, 2006 massacre in the city of Muttur, in the mainly Tamil north of the island.

UNHRC unanimously adopted a resolution to establish a fund for the participation of civil society at various fora

Action on Decision on the Establishment of a Special Fund for the Participation of Civil Society at Various Fora

In a decision (A/HRC/24/L.16) on the establishment of a Special Fund for the participation of civil society at various fora, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Secretary-General to establish a Special Fund for the participation of civil society and other relevant stakeholders at the Social Forum, Forum on Minority Issues, and Forum on Business and Human Rights, to be administered by the Office of the High Commissioner.