Sri Lanka grants loans to former LTTE cadres

Colombo: The Sri Lankan government Monday provided low interest loans to former LTTE cadres to start their livelihood.

The ministry of rehabilitation said that a maximum of 250,000 rupees payable in 10 years with low interest rate of 4 per cent per annum are being made available to them. The handing over ceremony took place under the patronage of the rehabilitation minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera today at Mullaithivu, the former military capital of the LTTE and the scene of the final battle in May 2009. "We have given concessionary loans to 1,000 rehabilitated youth and the minister himself came to Mullaithivu to speed up the release of credit to another 196 people," ministry spokesman Iroshan Thalgaswattage told reporters. The ex-LTTE cadres who had surrendered during the final battle had been put through the process of rehabilitation where they underwent vocational training. Rehabilitation ministry said that loans would help them set up self employment. PTI