Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, the Sri Lankan government last week froze the funds of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
The Central Bank said it had issued the directive on the basis of combating the financing of terrorism.
The move has blocked $750,000 of TRO funds, raised by international donors and Tamil expatriates, primarily for tsunami-related rehabilitation and development.
The TRO protested the freezing of its accounts, saying the Colombo government had made no communication with the NGO, which has been registered as a charity there since 1985.
TRO appealed to international institutions, human right bodies and humanitarian organizations to make representations to the Sri Lanka Government and intimate the importance the continued functioning of TRO.
“[We] also seek information and official notification from the Central Bank on the nature of its action and the reasons for such action with clear and precise details enabling TRO to respond adequately,” the charity said.
“The Central Bank’s actions [to block TRO funds] will lead to further deprivation and suffering for the tsunami and war affected populations of the NorthEast. The people of the NorthEast will again be denied much needed relief, rehabilitation and development,” the TRO said in a statement.
“The timing of this action by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka with callous disregard to its consequences truly shocks not only the TRO staff but also the Tamil Diaspora community,” the TRO said.
“Since registering with the Government of Sri Lanka as a Charity TRO has responded to all requests for financial and project information from the Ministry of Social Services, the Ministry of Foreign Resources, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs promptly and exhaustively. There have never been any follow up questions or requests to testify before any committees or courts,” the TRO said.
“TRO as always will assist and fully support any enquiry or investigation into any aspects of its operation, however, this action by the central bank exerts extreme pressure on its ability to operate and will negatively impact the tsunami and war affected populations.”
The TRO said that the move to block its funds comes after a concerted campaign of intimidation and obstruction against its operations.
“There had been a concerted, malicious campaign against TRO in the recent past.
“Beginning with the attacks on TRO offices and continuing with the abduction and disappearance of 7 TRO staff members by paramilitaries, some members of the Government of Sri Lanka have sought to intimidate TRO staff and restrict the delivery of humanitarian relief and development to the war and tsunami affected communities of the NorthEast,”
The Sunday Times reported the freezing of TRO funds was made known to TRO officials only when they sought to make a withdrawal from their accounts in Kilinochchi and in Colombo.
TRO officials who went to the banks were told about the order and their cheques were not accepted.
TRO Administration Director Lawrance Thilakar, said that no prior notice had been given to the organization though it was registered as a charity with the Sri Lankan government and has been functioning since 1985.
Mr. Thilakar said relief work of the TRO would be affected as they are currently looking after persons displaced by the conflict as well as carrying out tsunami relief operations.
TRO has thus far implemented over US$ 20 million in tsunami related projects benefiting all three ethnic communities in the island, using money donated by international donors and Tamil expatriates.
60% of the $750,000 frozen last week were project funds for contractual obligations under the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) TRO has signed with international NGOs and UN Agencies (UNICEF, Save the Children, Operation USA and the Nippon Foundation amongst others).
40% of the funds were donated by the Tamil Diaspora to the TRO.
In January this year the Sri Lankan government called on the US government to ban the TRO operations in that country. The matter was raised by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera during his visit to the US.
The TRO is registered as a charity organization in the US and functions in 28 other countries. In Britain, the Charity Commission examined the TRO after complaints by Colombo and subsequently a new charitable company known as the Tamil Support Foundation (TSF) was set up with TRO funds being transferred to the new trust and with the same staff.
The Central Bank said it had issued the directive on the basis of combating the financing of terrorism.
The move has blocked $750,000 of TRO funds, raised by international donors and Tamil expatriates, primarily for tsunami-related rehabilitation and development.
The TRO protested the freezing of its accounts, saying the Colombo government had made no communication with the NGO, which has been registered as a charity there since 1985.
TRO appealed to international institutions, human right bodies and humanitarian organizations to make representations to the Sri Lanka Government and intimate the importance the continued functioning of TRO.
“[We] also seek information and official notification from the Central Bank on the nature of its action and the reasons for such action with clear and precise details enabling TRO to respond adequately,” the charity said.
“The Central Bank’s actions [to block TRO funds] will lead to further deprivation and suffering for the tsunami and war affected populations of the NorthEast. The people of the NorthEast will again be denied much needed relief, rehabilitation and development,” the TRO said in a statement.
“The timing of this action by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka with callous disregard to its consequences truly shocks not only the TRO staff but also the Tamil Diaspora community,” the TRO said.
“Since registering with the Government of Sri Lanka as a Charity TRO has responded to all requests for financial and project information from the Ministry of Social Services, the Ministry of Foreign Resources, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs promptly and exhaustively. There have never been any follow up questions or requests to testify before any committees or courts,” the TRO said.
“TRO as always will assist and fully support any enquiry or investigation into any aspects of its operation, however, this action by the central bank exerts extreme pressure on its ability to operate and will negatively impact the tsunami and war affected populations.”
The TRO said that the move to block its funds comes after a concerted campaign of intimidation and obstruction against its operations.
“There had been a concerted, malicious campaign against TRO in the recent past.
“Beginning with the attacks on TRO offices and continuing with the abduction and disappearance of 7 TRO staff members by paramilitaries, some members of the Government of Sri Lanka have sought to intimidate TRO staff and restrict the delivery of humanitarian relief and development to the war and tsunami affected communities of the NorthEast,”
The Sunday Times reported the freezing of TRO funds was made known to TRO officials only when they sought to make a withdrawal from their accounts in Kilinochchi and in Colombo.
TRO officials who went to the banks were told about the order and their cheques were not accepted.
TRO Administration Director Lawrance Thilakar, said that no prior notice had been given to the organization though it was registered as a charity with the Sri Lankan government and has been functioning since 1985.
Mr. Thilakar said relief work of the TRO would be affected as they are currently looking after persons displaced by the conflict as well as carrying out tsunami relief operations.
TRO has thus far implemented over US$ 20 million in tsunami related projects benefiting all three ethnic communities in the island, using money donated by international donors and Tamil expatriates.
60% of the $750,000 frozen last week were project funds for contractual obligations under the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) TRO has signed with international NGOs and UN Agencies (UNICEF, Save the Children, Operation USA and the Nippon Foundation amongst others).
40% of the funds were donated by the Tamil Diaspora to the TRO.
In January this year the Sri Lankan government called on the US government to ban the TRO operations in that country. The matter was raised by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera during his visit to the US.
The TRO is registered as a charity organization in the US and functions in 28 other countries. In Britain, the Charity Commission examined the TRO after complaints by Colombo and subsequently a new charitable company known as the Tamil Support Foundation (TSF) was set up with TRO funds being transferred to the new trust and with the same staff.
