Rajiva Wijesinha

“ I found for instance that UNHCR used Solidar as its preferred agency for projects and, though unlike the Europeans they had no ban against using local agencies, these had not been pursued for 2008. We managed to ensure some change for 2009, but there continues to be built in prejudice against locals, despite their greater efficiency (the best reports we find in the Protection area are those of the National Human Rights Commission and the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, whereas the international agencies engage in bitty work without it seems proper planning) . ”

“ We had previously pointed out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that many agencies, contrary to the blanket agreements they had signed, with that Ministry or others, simply did not bother to consult government, let alone get its approval, in gathering funding unto themselves to use in Sri Lanka. Of course it was partly our fault for not having set solid systems in place and demanding accountability, but in mitigation it should be noted that the UN had imperceptibly slipped into the role of coordinator of funding. ”

“ Their principal instrument for this was Solidar. This organization was a conglomeration of a number of European agencies, though in Sri Lanka there were only three that functioned, a German organization known as ASB, a Swiss one called SAH, and a Norwegian one entitled Norwegian People’s Aid. ”