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RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000241 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV CE
SUBJECT:  PRESS CONFERENCE TO PUBLICIZE POSITIVE WORK OF 
INTERNATIONAL NGOS IN SRI LANKA 
 
 
¶1.  The Ambassador and EU Head of Mission Wilson organized on 
February 7 a press conference to publicize the positive work that 
international NGOs are performing in Sri Lanka and condemn the 
recent campaign to discredit international NGOs.  The German 
Ambassador (and EU President), the U.S. Ambassador and the 
Ambassadors of Australia and Switzerland all spoke and provided 
specific examples of the positive work that NGOs from their 
countries are doing in Sri Lanka. 
 
¶2.  Ambassador's remarks follow: 
 
The United States attaches great importance to supporting the work 
of international NGOs and their indigenous Sri Lankan partners. 
This year the United States is providing almost $160 million for 
development assistance and tsunami reconstruction programs in Sri 
Lanka.  All of that assistance is implemented through our 
non-governmental partners. 
 
Approximately 40 of the international NGOs in Sri Lanka are based in 
the United States.  These American NGOs as well as other 
international and indigenous NGOS provide a wide range of valuable 
assistance to Sri Lankans in every part of Sri Lanka. 
 
Following are just a few examples of the important work American 
NGOs are doing: 
 
United Methodist Committee on Relief conducts emergency relief, 
shelter repair and reconstruction, rehabilitation of community 
infrastructure, and livelihood assistance in Batticaloa and 
Trincomalee Districts. 
 
AmeriCares is working to renovate the Pediatric ward, Operations 
Theater, Mental Health Clinic, Blood Bank, Medical and Surgical 
wards, and Outpatient Department of the Elpitiya Base Hospital in 
Galle District. 
 
CARE is supporting socio-economic empowerment, food production, 
infrastructure, saving and credit, and income generating activities 
Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Batticoloa. 
 
Mercy Corps has benefited over 330,000 people through economic and 
community recovery and development in Hambantota, Ampara, and 
Trincomalee. 
 
Catholic Relief Services constructed transitional shelters, repaired 
damaged homes and constructed latrines in Tsunami affected divisions 
in Ampara and Batticaloa. 
 
The Asia Foundation works with 35 local governments in tsunami and 
other areas to develop the capacity of the local governments by 
providing technical assistance and training. 
 
Associates in Rural Development Inc. works nationwide with the 
Bribery Commission and Auditor General Department to improve their 
capacity to reduce corruption in the government sector. 
 
Community Development Services  works in Kurunegala, Mannar and in 
the south and west with two main Sri Lankan NGO partners and six 
local sub-grantees to increase awareness of HIV-AIDS and 
prevention. 
 
Unfortunately some NGOs have been the target of unsubstantiated 
allegations in the Sri Lankan press and elsewhere.  This has 
resulted in the staff of these NGOs being subject to physical 
harassment and intimidation.  Such attacks jeopardize the valuable 
services and assistance these organizations provide to the Sri 
Lankan people. 
 
All American NGOs are subject to very strictprohibitions under 
American law against providingany assistance to the LTTE, which is 
listed as aterrorist organization in the United States. 
 
COLOMBO 00000241  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
If there are any allegations that humanitarian supplies are falling 
into LTTE hands, these NGOs and the United States Government would 
be pleased to cooperate fully to investigate promptly all such 
allegations and punish those who violate American law. 
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Minister 
for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe for 
his willingness to join us at this press conference and express the 
Government of Sri Lanka's support for the valuable work that 
international and indigenous NGOs are performing in Sri Lanka. 
 
Thank you. 
 
Minister Expresses Support 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda 
Samarasinghe agreed to our request to participate and give remarks 
at the conclusion of the press conference.  He noted that there are 
more than 3,000 NGOs registered to work in Sri Lanka.  He told the 
media that he had seen on many occasions the excellent work that 
such NGOs are doing to develop the country.  He stressed that the 
Government of Sri Lanka stands for the principle of supporting 
international NGOs.  He condemned statements that had appeared in 
the media suggesting that the government did not support the work of 
international NGOs.  He pledged that when complaints arise against 
specific NGOs, they would be investigated in a transparent and 
accountable manner and the NGO in question would be given the right 
to provide its side of the story.  He further pledged that no public 
statements would be made by GSL officials nor would press articles 
appear in the official media while such investigations were 
underway, unless an NGO was caught violating Sri Lankan law "in 
flagrante delicto."  He also announced that the government was 
planning to draft a code of conduct to set forth the parameters 
within which NGOs should operate in Sri Lanka.  He said the code 
would build on similar codes in other countries and would e 
developed in full consultation with international NGOs.  Finally, 
the Minister said that the government planned to develop a 
monitoring mechanism to ensure "proper end-to-end use of AID in 
conflict areas," to ensure that equipment and commodities are not 
diverted to the LTTE. 
 
¶3.  COMMENT:  The Minister's decision to attend and speak at this 
press conference was an important sign that the government takes 
donor and NGO concerns seriously and will make a serious effort to 
curtail the spate of unsubstantiated allegations that have appeared 
in the Sri Lankan press that have resulted in attacks on NGO 
representatives and other forms of intimidation and harassment. 
 
BLAKE