The National Secretariat, which works under Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence, is to investigate four NGOs, after they allegedly failed to comply with recently introduced government restrictions, the Daily Mirror reports.
“We are carrying out investigations at the moment. Once investigations are over, we will decide on the action to be taken against them,” the chair of the Secretariat, Saman Dissanayake, said stating that some of the NGOs had been banned previously.
In July Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence sent letters to all non-governmental organisations, demanding that they refrain from activities beyond their mandate, including press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and the publication of press releases.
The letter, signed by director of the Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations DMS Dissanayake, said NGOs should “prevent from such unauthorised activities with immediate effect”.
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“We are carrying out investigations at the moment. Once investigations are over, we will decide on the action to be taken against them,” the chair of the Secretariat, Saman Dissanayake, said stating that some of the NGOs had been banned previously.
In July Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence sent letters to all non-governmental organisations, demanding that they refrain from activities beyond their mandate, including press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and the publication of press releases.
The letter, signed by director of the Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations DMS Dissanayake, said NGOs should “prevent from such unauthorised activities with immediate effect”.
See related articles:
Government to stop NGOs from receiving foreign funding - Divaina (21 Jul 2014)
Sri Lankan Minister warns against 'foreign countries and NGOs' (20 Jul 2014)
New NGO law to be enacted (14 Jul 2014)
NGOs armed LTTE – Sri Lankan Prime Minister (11 Jul 2014)
Government defends NGO restrictions (10 Jul 2014
Government to close bank accounts of NGOs not registered with MoD (10 July 2014)
US ‘concerned’ about MoD circular restricting NGO activities (09 July 2014)
Military denies attempts to restrict NGO activities (08 July 2014)
Severe restrictions placed on NGO activities by Ministry of Defence (07 July 2014)