Aluthgama Tense Again

November 2, 2014 

A tense situation has arisen in and around Aluthgama after a private altercation between a Sinhalese and Muslim last evening.

Aluthgama – Last june | File photo

Following the altercation, a rumour had been spread to the effect that the Sinhalese person was assaulted on his way back from the temple resulting in Sinhalese crowds gathering to the Aluthgama town.

The incident had allegedly taken place in Dharga town which was subject to racial violence in June this year.

There has been no reported violence yet, with Special Task Force troops deployed in and around the area.

CPA’s ‘Two Weeks’ Is Made Of 23 Days (And Counting): Troubled NGO Says ‘Verification Of Documents Underway’

November 2, 2014 

In what appears to be a move to buy further time even after several weeks have passed since Colombo Telegraph published allegations of serious fraud, the Centre for Policy Alternatives claims that the authenticity of the relevant documents is being verified.

“An independent verification of all vouchers and documents in CPA’s possession relating to the allegations made against the organization is underway.” says the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

CPA Executive Director, Dr Saravanamuttu

“CPA will release a statement once this has been completed.” under the headline “Allegations on Colombo Telegraph website: Update” the CPA website further said today.

On October 10th Colombo Telegraph exposed various financial malpractices in the CPA. The CPA, in its official website, referring to this exposé, on the some day announced that its Executive Director, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu was away and that a response would be given ‘in two weeks’. Dr Saravanamuttu returned to Sri Lanka on the 17th. The self-imposed deadline expired on 24th October.

On October 10th, based on CPA documents in our possession, Colombo Telegraph accused the CPA of billing for un-held workshops, engaging in double billing,’ i.e getting grants from two donors to do the same task and duplicating receipts, hotel bills and other bills to submit to donors (perhaps even submitting same bills to multiple donors), and hoodwinking donors by filing expenses under safe cost columns.

Colombo Telegraph first asked the CPA to respond to certain questions based on our investigations on 8th of June, 2014.  The CPA, after exchanging a few emails finally said: “We consider further communication with you futile and reiterate our position that these allegations are clearly mala fide’.”

We responded as follows:

“It is of course your prerogative to communicate or refuse to do so, but there are troubling questions that remain.

“Can you tell us which of our allegations are mala fide?

“Can you tell us whether the CPA and the International Federation of Journalists together have submitted proposals to UNESCO and EU to do a “Public Service Broadcasting” campaign/training or not?

“If “yes” can you tell us what workshops were, for whom and where they were held?

How many workshops were held using UNESCO funding and how many workshops under EU funding?

“Since both EU and UNESCO funded workshops and certain activities, can tell us how much monies were given by both funders?

“Contrary to your claim that the “CPA paid the Galle Face Hotel liquor bill”, Sasha Ekanayake (the Unit coordinator at that time) said CPA submitted a bill to EU as drinks and food “Since (we) can’t charge liquor, the CPA submitted a different bill to CPA”. This means the CPA got a different bill from Galle Face Hotel instead of submitting the original bill (a copy of which I sent to you).  Would you agree?

“As we said before it’s not our duty to provide you documents. As you have implied in your last email, you have access to organization’s document so please check them.

“But don’t assume that we don’t have documents, we have all narrative reports which CPA submitted to the donors or a file of original bills, which the CPA did not submit to the donors.

“Just so you know, all documents are authentic and we can prove this if necessary.”

These are questions and comments that are based on damning documentary evidence in the possession of the Colombo Telegraph. The Colombo Telegraph finds it appalling that a strong advocate of checks and balances, accountability and transparency such as the CPA remains silent on the allegations.