Monday, July 04, 2005
JHU to present its own tsunami bill
By Damitha Hemachandra
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The JHU is to present a new bill on Tsunami Fund Management to Parliament with a view to minimise the authority of the P-TOMS committees and threatened to move a no confidence motion if the government tried to block the move.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said yesterday the bill, which is to be presented as a private member’s motion would deal with the management and regulation of funds donated by donor countries and various international organisations to the government.
“The bill would regulate the financial aid and spendings higher than Rs.100,000 and will also allow any citizen to question the financial functions of any NGO in courts,” the Ven. Thera said.
JHU secretary Champaka Ranawaka said the bill would also stop granting funds to the LTTE through various civil society organisations including the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
Discussions are being held with the opposition parties and Minister of Rehabilitation Sumedha Jayasena to acquire the required support needed for the bill, he said.
Commenting on the proposed legal action against the P-TOMS Ven. Ratana Thera said the JHU was seeking further legal opinion over the latest development of appointing government representatives to the P-TOMS policy making committee. “We have information that a Muslim and a non-LTTE Tamil are to be appointed as government’s two representatives and this move might deprive the Sinhala of any representation in the P-TOMS structure.
Ven. Thera also accused the government of authorising the LTTE to decide on the future of the Sri Lankans living in Southern and Western provinces too by the appointment of a LTTE member to the National Level committee. He said the JHU would take legal action on the issue since the move would violate local and international regulations.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The JHU is to present a new bill on Tsunami Fund Management to Parliament with a view to minimise the authority of the P-TOMS committees and threatened to move a no confidence motion if the government tried to block the move.
JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said yesterday the bill, which is to be presented as a private member’s motion would deal with the management and regulation of funds donated by donor countries and various international organisations to the government.
“The bill would regulate the financial aid and spendings higher than Rs.100,000 and will also allow any citizen to question the financial functions of any NGO in courts,” the Ven. Thera said.
JHU secretary Champaka Ranawaka said the bill would also stop granting funds to the LTTE through various civil society organisations including the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
Discussions are being held with the opposition parties and Minister of Rehabilitation Sumedha Jayasena to acquire the required support needed for the bill, he said.
Commenting on the proposed legal action against the P-TOMS Ven. Ratana Thera said the JHU was seeking further legal opinion over the latest development of appointing government representatives to the P-TOMS policy making committee. “We have information that a Muslim and a non-LTTE Tamil are to be appointed as government’s two representatives and this move might deprive the Sinhala of any representation in the P-TOMS structure.
Ven. Thera also accused the government of authorising the LTTE to decide on the future of the Sri Lankans living in Southern and Western provinces too by the appointment of a LTTE member to the National Level committee. He said the JHU would take legal action on the issue since the move would violate local and international regulations.
