We have to learn a lesson from what happened to tsunami aid. Otherwise, foreign funds disbursed for development in the NESL will also be squandered..!

Where is $ 470m. tsunami aid: UNP

By Kelum Bandara

The UNP yesterday asked for an explanation from the Government on the missing tsunami aid estimated at around US $ 470 million as stated in the latest report of Transparency International.

The UNP said after the tsunami hit the coastal belt of Sri Lanka, many foreign donors and agencies committed and disbursed aid worth millions of US dollars.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference yesterday that mystery surrounds what happened to around US $ 470 million of such funds.

“This has been stated in the Transparency International report. The Government is responsible for the mishandling of tsunami aid. We need a clarification from the Government,” Mr. Kiriella said.

He warned that action would be taken, under a future UNP-led government against those who pilfered tsunami aid.

“We have to learn a lesson from what happened to tsunami aid. Otherwise, foreign funds disbursed for development in the North and East will also be squandered in a similar manner. I believe foreign donors were reluctant to commit aid for the welfare centres in Vavuniya fearing that their aid would be pocketed by some elements in the government,” Mr. Kiriella said.

He said that the Government would never conduct inquiries into the misappropriation of tsunami funds.

“The Bribery Commission has been politicized today. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed it. However, it has to been appointed by the Constitutional Council established under the 17th Amendment,” he said.

During the 2005 Presidential election too, the UNP took up the ‘Helping Hambantota’ issue. Later, it was taken up in court.

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