News
Ex- President: Many NGOs thwart reconcilation, promote resentment
By Rathindra Kuruwita
A large number of NGOs actively worked against reconciliation in the country by preventing people from overcoming various traumas they had endured in the past, former President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday, before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.
“All governments have faced this problem. There are some good NGOs, but a large number of them want to ensure that people are angry and resentful. During my time as the President, NGOs played a big role in thwarting our reconciliation work.”
Sirisena said that those NGOs often overstepped their limits. Some of them, on the pretext of helping kindergarten children had visited Tamil villages and performed dramas based on the war. “They want children who had not faced war to be traumatized,” he said.
Sirisena also said that some Muslim organisations, too, had brought in extremist preachers into the country and those men had played a significant role in the spread of Wahabism.
Four persons including a Budhist monk died and 32 others were injured when two SLTB buses collided head on at Weerawila at arond 12 noon today (18).
Three of the deceased were women. 22 of the injured were admitted to the Hambanthota Hospital while 10 others have been admitted to the Debarawewa hospital.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship OONAMI which arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill and replenishment visit on 09 Mar 26 departed on 11 March.
The departing ship was given a formal farewell from the Sri Lanka Navy, in keeping with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo.
The 150.5m long JMSDF OONAMI is commanded by Commander IIO Hiromasa.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ship explored some tourist attractions in Colombo. The itinerary also included a coastal clean-up drive participated by naval personnel of both countries and engagements with the Sri Lanka Navy, designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The Central Cultural Fund established under the provisions of the Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980 is responsible for development of cultural and religious monuments in Sri Lanka, settling the expenditure borne for development, renovation and conservation of local and foreign cultural monuments, awarding financial donations for artisans as well as awarding those who served the nation in the fields of culture and religious sectors.
The said act has been passed in Parliament 45 years back and, the requirement to revise the provisions of the act according to the contemporary requirements haa been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted their policy
approval to amend the said act, considering the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasashana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
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