Colombo: Sri Lanka and the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM) will launch a USD 23 million
programme to rehabilitate former LTTE cadres with the help of
countries like US and UK.
The programme `Reintegrating ex-LTTE cadres into
civilian life` will be launched with assistance from US, Japan
and United Kingdom.
There are over 10,000 LTTE cadres who were either
captured or surrendered before the Sri Lankan Army after the
end of the 30-year-old civil war in the island.
"The programme encompasses education, training and
livelihood creation components," Justice and Law Reforms
Minister Milinda Moragoda said.
Besides the IOM and other countries, leading Sri
Lankan companies will also provide assistance to the
government.
"This initiative endorses President Mahinda
Rajapaksa`s vision of co-operation between the Government of
Sri Lanka, the private sector, the diaspora and the global
community to build a prosperous future for all Sri Lankans,"
Moragoda said.
In addition, Raj Rajaratnam, A Sri Lankan-born US-
based investment manager with interests in a number of local
companies, has also joined this private sector initiative in
supporting programme with a grant of USD 1 million.
Meanwhile, the Island newspaper reported on Sunday that
Rajaratnam was a supporter and funder of the Tamil
Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), considered a front of the
LTTE, which helped people post-Tsunami.
"A spokesperson for Justice and Law Reforms Ministry
fielding questions yesterday emphasised that the businessman`s
support for the TRO should not be construed as financial
assistance given to the LTTE," it said.
He pointed out that both Tamil speaking people living
in the North and East as well as Sinhalese in other parts of
the country affected by the tsunami received help from
Rajaratnam.
The official said that it would important to involve
the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka`s efforts to resettle the war
displaced as well as integrate ex-LTTE cadres into the
mainstream.
Bureau Report
