“PAY MONEY FOR TSUNAMI EMERGENCY WORK”

Humanitarianism shown by people from all walks of life in Sri Lanka when the tsunamis struck the coastal belt of Sri Lanka on that fateful day in December last year was overwhelming, if not, indescribable as related media and agency reports emanated from all the corners including un-cleared areas confirmed.

Some went to the extent of donating all clothes they have had at that point of time while others jumped into immediate action, helped their fellow victims, began to cook hot meals with what was left at their homesteads, provided immediate first-aid assistance and basically did everything possible to console the affected, in some instances, by going even to the extent of accommodating some in their own houses.

Foreigners were reportedly amazed at the considerate and generous behaviour of our country men during the gravest and the darkest hour of our Nation, as quoted in the Press. Needless to say, nobody with an iota of common sense or politeness would ever dare to ask reciprocal compensations for voluntary services you rendered in times of that catastrophe, unprecedented in our times.

It happens in Sri Lanka. Sadly and despicably, some of those do-gooders in the north, most apparently, contrary to their much-cherished values of their religions and cultural ethos, have now been driven by a ludicrous party to demand payments for their services during the peak of the tsunami tragedy.

Several Non-Governmental Organizations, including, Northern Region Lorry Owners Co-op Society Ltd, appear to be hell-bent on making a fast bug out of their services during the tsunamis at the behest of a cat's paw that operates behind the curtains.

In a strange and incredible move, the Northern Region Lorry Owners Co-op Society Ltd (NRLOCSL) now writes to the Assistant Divisional Secretary at Periyapachchilaipalli, Jaffna demanding transport and fuel charges for their services during the disaster. The NRLOCSL wants Rs. 4,50,000 (US$ 4687) for their diesel consumption and another sum of Rs 35,000 for wages of those who worked for the disaster. Similarly, another organization wants a sum of Rs 89, 86, 870 (US$ 93,613) from the government for supply of cooked meals and sanitary items to the victims during a period of twelve days (27th December-07th January 2005).

The million-dollar question that gives rise to lingering doubts among the concerned is whether those monies have been actually spent by that particular organization in good faith or wanted by another “mysterious organ” which has been driven to the fore at times of this crisis.

It has to be expected that separatist movements as well as agencies in the guise of “Good Samaritans,” contrary to what the Government was doing for those victims, would make use of this disaster to project themselves as sole representatives of the victims. This certainly needs deep analysis. Hence, demand for payment of money for humanitarian services in this way, particularly after providing relief to own Tamil brethren in the north, speaks volumes of shamefulness and callous disregard to humanity.

This very act of seeking payment for emergency relief services amply proves that there could be more than one agenda for those operate behind the scenes. Over to YOU, readers !