Eastern Commander says military should supervise development work

Military in eastern Sri Lanka have ordered regional authorities to "supervise" all development work by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS) in the region.

In a memorandum circulated to the security chiefs and civil administrators, Eastern Commander Maj. Gen. Parakrama Pannipitiya has ordered not to allow any NGO to start projects "according to their will" in the east.

Civil or military administration?

Executive Director of the Human Rights Consortium, Jeevan Thyagarajah, questioned the intervention by the military in development work.

"Out of five ministers for Nation Building, two work for the development in the east. Why do we need special committees?" he asked in an interview with BBC Sandeshaya.

Is there going to be a civil administration in the east or a military administration. People are already suspicious about government plans Rights activist Jeevan Thyagarajah

"Is there going to be a civil administration in the east or a military administration. People are already suspicious about government plans," Thyagarajah who is also a director of Eastern Development Authority said.

A village committee that consists Grama Sevaka officer (GSO: village official), representatives of the police and the security forces and villagers should be responsible for the future development of the area, according to the memorandum.

Projects allocated by DS

It said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) or Special Task Force (STF) should represent the security forces in the Rural Development Committee.

Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya has ordered that the committees need to meet at least once a month to discuss development in the recently re-captured areas in the east.

	President Rajapaksa celebrated military victories in the east

Projects will only be allocated to NGOs by the District Secretariat after they were approved by the development committee, the memorandum said.

The GSO is ordered to produce reports on issues discussed in the committee to the Divisional Secretary for further action.

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told BBC sandeshaya that he will respond on Monday to the concerns raised by rights activists.

Sri Lanka government celebrated re-capturing eastern province in a lavish celebration in Colombo on Thursday.