Ranil says in P’ment MOD directive to NGOs invalid; PM defends
Saturday, 12 July 2014 02:00
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The circular limiting the NGO operations to their “annual action plans” and strictly “prohibiting press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases,” came under heated debate in Parliament yesterday.
Highlighting the circular number MOD/NGO/mon/4 dated 1st July 2014 1.7.2014 the Director/ Registrar of the National Secretariat for Non-Government Organizations has issued, Opposition Leader pointed out lack of legal provisions. “At the very outset we wish to point out that neither the Ministry nor any organizations operating under it has the power or authority to issue such directions to NGOs.
“In 1980 the Government passed the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act to regulate and supervise enterprises commonly called Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). Section 15 of the Act required promulgation of regulations and accordingly regulations were promulgated on 15 October, 1999 (Gazette No. 1101/14). These regulations dealt mostly with the setting up of a “Board of Inquiry” to inquire into complaints in respect of any allegations of fraud or misappropriation of funds. It is clear therefore the regulation of NGO’s has to be within the four corners of the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act and the Regulations made therein,” said Wickremasinghe.
“No authority outside these parameters has the right, power or authority to exercise any form of regulation or supervision of NGOs. Furthermore, this action of the National Secretariat for Non-Government Organizations is a blatant violation of the Constitution more particularly Article 14 thereof which guarantees to all citizens - freedom of speech, expression, publication, assembly and association. The 1980 Act has not placed any restrictions on the operation of Article 14 of the Constitution of the Republic. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also incorporates the rights of association, opinion and expression including the right to impart any ideas through any medium and the Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association (Article 19 and 20). Workshops and Training are a part of the freedom of association while the holding of media conferences came under the freedom of expression. This is a blatant attempt by the Government to control all non-governmental organizations. An attempt to negate the rights conferred under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” added the Opposition Leader requesting a reply from the Government.
Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne giving the reason for issuing such circular, which is “not a violation of the constitution” held that as “national intelligence agencies provided information shows some mala fide acts brewing with a few NGOs,” the Government wanted to nip at bud.
