INGOs linked with LTTE booted out

COLOMBO: The Government has decided to withdraw visas issued to members of four International Non Governmental Organisations (INGO), which through their alleged clandestine dealings with the LTTE are posing a threat to National security. The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to report on affairs of the NGOs and INGOs have, after investigations, recommended the withdrawal of the visas issued to MSS France, MSS Spain, MDM France and Doctors of the World USA, as the members of these organisations had been found to be promoting LTTE activities, thus endangering national security, head of the Committee, JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said Friday. Defence Ministry sources confirmed that they had been warned by the select committee about the clandestine activities of these INGOs, who, under the pretext of engaging in rehabilitation work, particularly in the North and the East, had been supporting the Tigers.
It had also been recommended that their visas be withdrawn. The Immigration Department too had warned of the possibility of those, whose visas have been withdrawn, returning to the island as tourists to continue helping the terrorist outfit.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse was not available for comment.
However, Herath said "We discovered that one INGO member, whose Visa has been withdrawn earlier, for assisting in terrorist activity, had returned to Sri Lanka two months ago on a tourist visa and was working with the same INGO. Around 30-40 INGO members have been deported from the country in the recent past he said.
MSS France had been very critical of the Defence Ministry withdrawing the visas of the INGO personnel in the past and has even sent threatening letters to Defence Ministry officials over action taken against them.
“The committee has evidence that MDM France had been displaying a banner on their vehicles with their emblem, the Sri Lanka Government emblem with the wording Ministry of Health and Department of Health Services of the LTTE, in the LTTE controlled areas," Herath said adding that this particular INGO has used the same emblems in its letter heads as well.
One of the INGOs had signed a MoU with the Health Ministry and is assisting hospitals in Trincomalee and Muttur. The Selcet Committee has warned the Health Ministry about the INGOs involvement with the LTTE, Herath said.