Colombo: Over 2000 ex-LTTE cadres,
including 847 females, 253 children and 55 university
students, have been released till now after completing
rehabilitation programme as Sri Lanka celebrates one year of
victory over the tiger rebels.
"At present there are 148 University students
including 51 females under rehabilitation," according to the
Defence Ministry.
Over 400 ex-LTTE cadres, including 198 ex-child
soldiers were handed over to their families on Tuesday after
completion of successful rehabilitation programme launched
under the Ministry of Rehabilitation.
The ceremony was held at the Veerasingham Hall Jaffna
under the patronage of Northern Governor Maj General GA
Chandrasiri and Minister of Traditional Industries and Small
Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, the ministry said.
Under the ex-LTTE child soldier rehabilitation
program, former LTTE cadres were given an opportunity to
continue their studies.
According to the rehabilitation Ministry`s statistics,
11,000 out of nearly 300,000 people who crossed over to
Government held areas in May 2009, had been identified as LTTE
combatants and sent to the rehabilitation centres.
"The religious dignitaries present on the occasion at
Jaffna invoked the blessing of the Gods to allow those
released to live a life of peace and harmony in the future,"
the ministry said in a statement.
PTI
