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Local councils barred from using emergency funds for relief work
Local councils have been barred by the Ministry of Local Government from accessing their dedicated “Emergency Fund’ to carry out relief distribution initiatives on their own, after citing fears that the local government members may use the funds for politically motivated campaigns ahead of elections.
Instead, Governors are drawing moneys from emergency funds for food distribution on an undertaking by the Treasury that the funds will be reimbursed.
The Provincial Council and Local Government Ministry had issued a circular to Chief Secretaries of all nine provinces and local council commissioners not to approve such requests on the basis that those initiatives could be used for promoting political candidates ahead of the postponed general elections.
The Ministry also warned those decision making level senior officials in the local bodies that if there were any financial irregularities or frauds to be found in those relief programmes which they authorised for the usage of state emergency funds, they would be personally held responsible for such shortcomings and should pay the amount to the State from their own pockets.
Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times that the decision wastaken after the Election Commission informed the President about the issue.
He said local council could partner with private donors or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to carry out relief work.
In the north, at least ten local councils this week passed urgent resolutions seeking approval to obtain funds to carry out relief programmes the poor in locked down villages.
Since the province is under Presidential rule, the Northern Governor’s Office refused to sanction those requests from the local councils. The Office cited the circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government earlier this week instructing not to allow such practices.
The local council which passed the resolutions argued on the basis of the Pradeshiya Sabhas Act. This permitted them “to spend any part of the Pradeshiya Sabha Fund on maternity and child-welfare services, health education, maintenance of primary health centres, the training of midwives for the purpose of any maternity service established by the Pradeshiya Sabha, housing scheme, such charities or such measures for the relief of distress caused by rain, floods, gales, fire, earthquake, famine or epidemics or such other purpose as may be approved by the Minister.”
The Election Commission this week urged those who engaged in relief campaign programmes not to use it as platforms for electioneering and propaganda activities targeting the general elections which has been postponed until further notice.