Another NGO crook – Deshapriya, media watchman – caught red handed

by H.L.D. Mahindapala

(December 21, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) Shifty-eyed Sunanda Deshapriya, a prominent Director of the Center for Policy Alternative (CPA) headed by Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu (Paki) and also spokesperson for the Free Media Movement, has been sacked by CPA for fraudulently transferring money given by foreign agencies to protect journalists.

According to media reports, Deshapriya had swindled Rs. 200,000. Partners in this racket are alleged to be the President and the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA). The money has been deposited in SLWJA bank accounts and later withdrawn to protect their interests and not that of the journalists.

Deshapriya, an ex-JVPer, drifted from jail into the NGO circuit and joined Charles' Abeysekera who also left the high profile job in Government service under a cloud. Workers in his corporation struck work demanding that he be sacked but he resigned, leaving many questions about his dealings unanswered, and went into the lucrative NGO business of forming the 'Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality (MIRJE).' Deshapriya joined MIRJE to edit the now-defunct Sinhala weekly tabloid Yukthiya (Justice).

Deshapriya also became the Convenor of the so-called Free Media Movement and was associated with the Scandinavian-Funded Sri Lanka College of Journalism. He has been a vocal critic of the corruption in high places. Now he has been caught red handed with his hand in the till.

The Free Media Movement was initiated by foreign-funded agencies in the 1990s. Money was spent lavishly by a gang of self-appointed media watchmen who went round the country holding meetings in between long sessions held in the watering holes of each town. They were better known as “Free Booze Movement”. Some of the prominent Free Media men were given top jobs in the state media of President Chandrika Kumaratunga for services rendered. After criticizing the state media run by the UNP these “Free Boozers” went into a comatose silence when they occupied the editorial chairs in Kumaratunga’s state media.

Deshapriya was comfortable in the NGO circuit. He was given a leading role in the CPA and he hobnobbed with leading lights in the NGOs networks. He posed as the pure white lily of Sri Lanka morality appearing in TV and other public fora. With foreign funds in his pockets he was seen in leading five-star hotels wining and dining in his self-proclaimed mission to protect the journalists.

Dr. Saravanamuttu has said that he had accepted the resignation of Deshapriya, a director in his outfit. That is “Paki’s” way of saying that he has sacked him. But “Paki” is also playing footsy with his crooked Director. He has said that Deshapriya’s statement “lacks clarity”. Paki’s gobbledygook is to cover-up the fact that he has sheltered a crook in is NGO who has played out the money given to protect the journalists. It is also reported that Deshapriya has returned the money he played out in full. But investigations are going on, according to Paki. Investigations are going on into his other financial dealings with other NGO organizations.

Sri Lankan NGOs are plagued with corruption. “Paki” himself was in the forefront attacking the corruption and the scandals of power struggles within the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), the NGO which was run by Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy. (Though she is an Under-Secretary in the UN she still has her fingers in the ICES pie.)Like most NGOs ICES (also known as the Incestuous Cabal for Eelamist Sycophants) plugged the pro-separatist line of the Eelamists. “Paki” and Deshapriaya were also close comrades in toeing this pro-separatist line. They were quick to criticize the governments but not the Tamil Tigers. In fact, they manufactured excuses for the Tamil Tigers. For instance, “Paki” has launched an offensive against the Army Commander for making political statements but he has never launched a similar offensive against Velupillai Prabhakaran -- an internationally banned terrorist wanted by Interpol, India, and Sri Lanka. “Paki” has also never condemned Prabhakaran for killing more Tamils than any all the other forces put together. “Paki’s” main complaint is that no has criticized the Army Commander. But he has yet to answer wshy he hasn’t condemned Prabhakaran or taken him to court through his legal department.

“Paki” has complained that Deshapriya’s statement “lacks clarity”. When “Paki” sacked his Director there was ample “clarity” about the crooked act of Deshapriya. After all it must be the “clarity” in Deshapriya’s crooked deal that prompted him to “accept his resignation.” However, it is “Paki’s” statement that is lacking in clarity. The Sri Lankan media and the public need more “clarity” from “Paki” – the champion of transparency and accountability – as to how his director was misdirecting funds.

Too many NGOs have been exposed as corrupt institutions abusing the funding of its foreign donors. They run away when it comes to revealing the skeletons in their cupboards. A. T. Ariyaratne has been exposed in official investigations by commissions inquiring into his shady deals. Studies made by leading scholars like Dr. Susantha Goonetilake too have exposed him as a crook engaged in exploiting foreign donors’ funds for his own glorification, and his own and his family’s welfare.

ICES too, which is touted as the best research centre in South Asia, too was riddled with scandals recently. “Paki” has to explain how under his watch his media watchman managed to diddle the money. What are the corrupt deals going on under his watch in CPA? Who is auditing the funds? In other words, who is watching the watchmen?

“Paki’s” other media man, Lasantha Wickrematunge, who loudly announces that he is “unbowed and unafraid” did not have on word in today’s Sunday Leader (December 21, 2008) “Paki” is a regular contributor to the Morning Leader. So is Wickrematunge running scared of exposing his buddy, “Paki’s” political den?

Deshapriya is also a member of the Editors’ Guild. Can this body keep him as a member when he has played out the money allotted to protect the journalists? Deshapriya has not announced that he would resign from the other organizations of which he is a member. He has paraded as the high priest of morality in foreign and local media. He too owes and explanation as to why he attempted to play out the money given to him to protect his fellow-journalists.

He is also listed in a few international organizations. Will “Paki” inform these organizations and get him “sacked” or will he turn a blind eye like the way he turn a blind eye to his Dumb Chum in the Tiger camp, Prabhakaran? - Sri Lanka Guardian