With reasonable doubts emerging about monies from NGOs and other international organizations meant for public welfare in the North and East being used to fund terrorist activities of the LTTE, the Government yesterday appointed a special committee to make a deep and comprehensive study of these expenditures.

This committee will be headed by Prof. Rajiv Wijesinghe, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat and the Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights.

According to available information several foreign countries and NGOs had provided a large amount of funds for development activities in the North and East, when these areas were under LTTE control. However, following the opening up of these areas consequent to the humanitarian military operations, it is now seen that no development whatsoever, commensurate with the large sums claimed to have spent have found there. Whatever development has been limited to signboards.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga told the media briefing at the Presidential Secretariat that this was the immediate reason for the appointment of this special committee of investigation.

It is now revealed that these funds have been diverted to ensure the comfort, safety and convenience of LTTE leadership with nothing of it been used for public welfare.

Concrete bunkers for the LTTE cadres and its leaders built with these funds have been protected using bags of rice and other foodstuff sent by the Government for the use of civilians of these areas.

The recent statements and activities of NGOs, INGOs and certain international organizations show that they seem alarmed by these exposures caused by the successful military operations being conducted by the Security Forces in the North and East, the Secretary said.

Consequently, recommendations of this committee will be useful to prevent mismanagement of funds by the NGOs, INGOs and other international organizations in the future.