Some Reflections on the Role of NGOs in Development in Sri Lanka

Sirisana Tilakaratna
Professor of Economics, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka

14 September 1990

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In this short essay Sirisana Tilakaratna provides a brief analysis of the varying roles that NGOs play in development. He then moves on to examine the two primary roles which non-governmental development organisations (NGDOs) play either as direct providers of services (delivery agents) or as promoters of people's organisations.

He concludes by arguing that the only ethical role for external NDGOs to play in development is to strengthen civil society. This should take the form of preparing and creating an effective demand among socially aware groups of poor people such that they are stimulated to create their own organisations as instruments of their own self-development.