Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has
sought the assistance of the UN agencies, international donors
and the local business community to rehabilitate over 11,000
former LTTE cadres.
Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj Gen Daya
Ratnayake yesterday sought the assistance and said the
government had rehabilitated a large number of former LTTE
cadres from the Eastern Province over the past two years.
A total of 556 former LTTE child soldiers under the
age of 18 have been divided into two groups. One group
consisting of 273 ex-LTTE child soldiers, who have had prior
education, were admitted to Hindu College Ratmalana, in the
outskirts of capital city, to continue their studies, he said.
The government plans to rehabilitate these
"unfortunate" children to make them worthy citizens of the
country, he added.
The remaining 293 were given Vocational Training at
the camp at Punnthottam in Vavuniya.
The Commissioner has said that about 1,854 women
cadres are receiving formal education.
Eight new rehabilitation centers are expected to come
up in Vavuniya and Jaffna by the end of this year, Ratnayake
said adding the centres will accommodate 500 persons in each
centre.
Meanwhile 10 more centres will be opened in Vavuniya
and Jaffna by the end of this year, he said adding each centre
would house up to 500 inmates.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 18:11