Four INGOs banned, officials ordered out

By Chandani Kirinde

Foreign officials of four International NGOs have been given time till October 10 to leave the country following intelligence reports of their alleged links with the LTTE, an official said yesterday.
Immigration and Emigration Controller P.B. Abeykoon said the visas of these officials had been cancelled and they were given two weeks to leave the country.

The operations of the four INGOs – two French, one Spanish and an American organisation, working mainly in the north and east – have also been banned with immediate effect, Mr. Abeykoon said.

The controller said the deportation order came after a parliamentary select committee probing NGOs and INGOs called for immediate action against the four INGOs.

In August, Dr. Pep Coll, head of mission of Medicos Del Mundo-Spain (MDM Spain), was sent out of the country on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee because of the links with the LTTE.

This INGO had issued certificates bearing the emblem of Sri Lanka alongside an LTTE emblem to those who had participated in a medial training workshop in Trincomalee earlier this year.

The certificate also stated that the INGO along with the Health Ministry was issuing the certificate.
The parliamentary committee has now recommended that the other officials of this INGO should also be sent out of Sri Lanka.

Attempts to contact members of one of the banned INGOs failed as they were not available at the listed address or telephone number.