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Don't create inequities, Kadir tells NGO colloquium
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar advised International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) to conduct their humanitarian activities in such a manner as not to create new social inequities and disputes between the displaced and the wider community and also ensure that INGO humanitarian activities did not disturb the inter community and religious harmony.

The Minister made the comments when he chaired a colloquium of INGO's and charitable institutions at the headquarters of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday.

The meeting was convened with a view to maintaining the momentum for recovery and reconstruction of the country in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster. The Minister said there had been an unprecedented worldwide public response to the tsunami disaster manifested through NGOs, many of whom were represented at the meeting.

"It has become important therefore to develop a framework for NGO activities in Sri Lanka which would enable the funds available to INGOs for tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation to be deployed for productive activities such as housing, micro financing, livelihood support and national capacity building in an accountable and transparent manner.

During the meeting several recommendations emerged including the need for INGOs to work as development partners of the government to ensure that assistance reached those in need, transparent reporting mechanism and to keep the public informed, maintain quality standards in all reconstruction work, rebuild better and environmentally sustainable houses and the continuous dialogue be maintained with INGOs and the government at international, national and district levels.

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