The aid sent through the 'Mercy Mission Ship - Captain Ali' by Tamil Diaspora and held up for over four months at the Sri Lankan port still has no sign of reaching its intended recipient the Tamil IDPs.
The Daily Mirror Online reported quoting Mr. Surein Peiris, Deputy Director General of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) that the SLRC Chairman had written to the government that if the delays and taxes continues the “Red Cross will wash its hands off the IDP aid and hand the aid over to the government".
He further stated that although they have received a written waiver of Port Charges from the Ministry of Ports during the last week, the government taxes concerned still had to be paid. The request for the waiver of the taxes has not had a positive response he added. The Valued Added Tax (VAT) and the Nation Building Tax (NBT) from end of July to the 22nd of September for the cargo is estimated to be approx 2 million rupees.
The 27 aid containers containing 884 tons of essential food, medicine and equipment have had it fair share of delay after delay from its inception. With inspections, demurrages charges and now taxes dragging its release to the SLRCS and its distribution among the IDPs.
