Colombo: As many as 108 former LTTE combatants were reunited with their family in northern Jaffna in Sri Lanka after they went through a rehabilitation programme for learning employment skills.
Bureau of Commissioner General Rehabilitation (BCGR) during a hand-over ceremony at Thelippalai Rehabilitation Centre in Jaffna ensured that those 108 rehabilitated youngsters rejoin their loved ones, the Army said.
This was after their intense BCGR training in different vocations such as carpentry, welding, Information Technology, electric work, masonry, clerical work and metal work.
Several International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) and Non-government Organisations (NGOs) as well as government's vocational training centres extended their fullest cooperation to those training programmes by way of supply of training specimen equipment, the Army added.
Their exit, on the eve of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year (April 14) the most significant cultural festival for both Sinhalese and Tamils, heralded festive spirits as the galaxy of senior Army and civil administrators, academics and religious dignitaries graced the occasion.
Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna who was the Chief Guest on the occasion late last week was received by two small girls living at Thelippalai Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centre with their mothers.
Out of them, 40 males, 11 females and seven disable persons who received rehabilitation bade farewell to their trainers at BCGR and "received the warmth of their adults", the Army said.
In addition, 43 ex female LTTE cadres who qualified for university admission, were also handed over to Vice Chancellor, University of Jaffna through their relatives.
The government's educational authorities thorough the BCGR, have already arranged facilities, needed for those 43 girls to continue with their higher education at the University of Jaffna.
Hathurusinghe before addressing rehabilitated youngsters and their relatives on the occasion distributed BCGR certificates issued to beneficiaries confirming their competency in various fields of vocational training.
In January this year, the Thelippalai Rehabilitation Centre had restored over 20 rehabilitated ex-LTTE combatants to their parents and guardians, the army said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 12, 2010, 15:48