Caritas staying with Wanni people- Daily Mirror- 2008/09/16

By Yohan Perera

Caritas Sri Lanka, the social service arm of the Catholic Church said yesterday it would not move out from Wanni as it was an organization which worked closely with the people and had to be with them at a time of conflict, a Caritas official said.

He said Caritas had informed the government of its stand.

Wanni sources said some NGOs had moved out of the Wanni but others were being prevented from leaving by the residents.

The Caritas official said the LTTE pass system which was in existence even during the ceasefire period was also an obstacle for people to move out of the Wanni and in addition the fear of losing their homes and having to live in camps once they leave the Wanni was also holding them back.

Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said any NGO could remain in Vavuniya which was a part of the Wanni and operate from there.

He said no NGO had officially informed him of staying back in conflict areas and hoped all the NGOs would honor the September 29 dead line.

The Minister said no organization can say it was not an NGO, as any institution or an organization which was not owned or controlled by the government was an NGO.

Source