COLOMBO: The government plans to introduce ‘tougher measures’ to stop international NGO’s ‘meddling’ in the country’s affairs, political sources said on Wednesday amidst a background of increased hostility by Sinhala nationalist groups towards international non governmental organisations working in the country.

The regulations to be imposed are being formulated by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Social Services and Home Affairs and include visa restrictions as well as specified limits for NGO’s to carry out their work, officials said.

The decision to tighten the reins on non governmental organisations comes a month after the government cancelled the visa of Dr Rama Mani, who held the post of Executive Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) office in Colombo.

The deporting of Dr Mani, an Indian national and a French passport holder came following investigations into her alleged role in prescribing the Right to Protect policy (R 2 P) for Sri Lanka where the international community can intervene when a State fails to protect its civilians from mass atrocities. Meanwhile, the parliament select committee looking in to alleged controversial activities of certain non governmental organisations has recommended in its interim report that international NGOs seeking registration in Sri Lanka should produce a certificate from the Finance Ministry and the Defence Ministry of the country of origin.

As local and international NGO’s come under stringent government scrutiny international rights organisations are continuing to criticise both the government and the LTTE for violations of human rights.

Amnesty International releasing a statement recently requested the Sri Lankan government to make protection of human rights its priority and to allow the rights watchdog access to the country to monitor abuses.

“Amnesty International’s role is to monitor and report on human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. The organisation has repeatedly requested that the government should facilitate this role by allowing us access to the country,” a statement issued by the organisation said.

The government has accused Amnesty International of failing to condemn recent bomb attacks by the LTTE which killed scores of civilians, an allegation denied by the organisation.

Government defence spokesman, Keheliye Rambukwella when contacted dismissed calls for monitoring rights abuse in the country.

Months ago the government rejected similar calls for UN monitors to be deployed.

Meanwhile the UN and non governmental organisations working in the conflict-ridden north and east are warning of a major humanitarian toll as a result of the full scale war being waged in the region.

According to the Common Humanitarian Action Plan 2008, prepared by the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) country team for Sri Lanka, agencies have been advised to be prepared to assist up to 500,000 conflict-affected individuals comprising internally displaced persons, returnees and economically affected persons.

The report which was released on Febr 22 warned that displacement levels could be similar to the year 2007 when 308,000 persons were forced from their homes due to escalated fighting.

NGO sources point out that the situation is aggravated because many organisations are phasing out of the volatile north and east due to the difficulty in carrying out their work in those areas.

Humanitarian agencies state that they are finding it increasingly difficult to transport assistance for civilians in Tiger-held areas due to military restrictions.

“It is difficult when NGOs are increasingly seen as helpers of the LTTE. There have been instances where food transported to rebel controlled areas meant for children have been interpreted as food sent to feed the LTTE,” a humanitarian worker said in the wake of allegations by the government that the LTTE and its sympathisers were misleading the international community and making use of the NGO sector to meet its own ends.