By IANS
Colombo : Foreign aid donors and international agencies in Sri Lanka have released a set of "guiding principles" and pledged to work with transparency and impartiality to provide humanitarian assistance.
The commitment comes amidst heightened criticism of the humanitarian community by some government authorities and local media, reports IRIN news network.
The US, Britain, Japan, Germany, the European Union and the UN were among 14 bilateral donors who have signed a 10-point memorandum setting out globally accepted standards for delivering aid.
The group, which accounts for almost 90 percent of overseas aid to Sri Lanka, also sought better access to those in need of assistance and more security for donor agencies' staff, while promising to distribute aid impartially and with respect for the desires of local communities.
"We wish to show ourselves as a group that these are the principles underpinning our work to counter some of the negative criticisms that we have been subjected to," European Union official Julian Wilson said.
The other signatories to the code of conduct are Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Norway, South Korea and Sweden.
Foreign aid agencies have at times been criticised in the Sri Lankan media for alleged misuse of finances and lack of transparency in implementing development projects, particularly in the wake of the December 2004 tsunami disaster.