The government said on Friday (06^th) that all international aid for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) should be channelled through the government and not sent directly to INGOs operating in the country in order to have better accountability.

“The aid or grants coming from other foreign countries should not directly go to the INGOs or NGOs and should be channelled through the government’s management and the administration,” Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The minister said that as a sovereign nation the government should know everything about the funds that come in and what they are used for. “The government has a system. Though aid is coming as grants or funds, the government should know how it is spent,” the minister said adding that “INGO or NGOs, which are here to help us should work with the government.”

“As a sovereign nation, the government cannot accept that the funds are used independently by INGOs in which case, about 50 % of the funds will be spent on overheads. The government believes that there must be accountability.”

The minister also claimed that half the aid coming to the country is going back again to donating countries by way of salaries, and other payments.  

While appreciating the grants or aid from foreign nations, he also said that the government has drawn up a system, “so we will invite those INGOs and NGOs to take part in this process.”

Courtesy: Dailymirror.lk