Unaccountable NGOs & National Appointments

By Amrit Muttukumaru –June 4, 2015

Amrit Muttukumaru

The integrity of almost all large NGOs in this country can be questioned on the basis of their miserable financial accountability. Some may even have metamorphosed in to family or ‘sole proprietor’ businesses! What is of particular concern is that many NGO ‘captains’ are close to the political power center (particularly the Wickremesinghe administration) and thereby influence national policy not always for the good – but always self-serving! These include (i) Keeping application of ‘Right to Information’ away from NGOs and the private sector (ii) not bringing private sector wrongdoers to heel (iii) auditors not made accountable for professional misconduct.

How could such persons be even considered for appointment to national bodies needing UNQUESTIONED INTEGRITY?

Open Invitation

This is an ‘Open Invitation’ to large NGOs in Sri Lanka to CONFIRM with EVIDENCE placing on their otherwise elaborate websites: “project based donor information (inclusive of amount and source) together with concomitant expenditure appropriately broken down to also reflect administrative and personnel costs and payments to individuals”

I doubt any of them doing this!

Major Accountability Issues                                     Read More

Now Family Bandyism Charge Rocks CC Appointment Process

June 4, 2015 

The Government of Sri Lanka is struggling to find three persons of integrity and general fitness with respect to the requirements of representing civil society (non-politician members) in the Constitutional Council. Already one of the nominees, Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy, has come under flak for dubious positions taken on Sri Lanka. The ‘Daily Mirror’ in an editorial outlining the qualities that CC members ought to have has also urged that people with certain track records shouldn’t be entertained. Some of the traits flagged are reminiscent of Coomaraswamy’s track record.

Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne

Meanwhile the credentials of another nominee, 84 years old, Sarvodaya leader Dr A.T. Ariyaratne, are as suspect given overwhelming evidence of family bandyism within the movement. This is at odds with the zero tolerance of corruption and favoritism promised by President Maithripala Sirisena in his election campaign which unleashed scathing attacks on his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa for favors granted to family members.

Colombo Telegraph reveals the following pertinent information on Dr Ariyaratne.

1. President Premadasa filed charges against A.T. Ariyaratne and established a Commission that found he had siphoned donor funds to his family bank accounts.

2. A.T.Ariyaratne is the life President of Sarvodaya.

3. His son Dr Vinya Ariyaratne is the Gen. Secretary of Sarvodaya and was its former CEO.                                             Read More