500 ex-combatants to be released

19 June 2011 10:21 am

By Supun Dias

Another batch consisting of 500 rehabilitated LTTE cadres is to be released into the society at the end of this month in Vavuniya, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Sudantha Ranasignhe said.

“The ex LTTE cadres were to be integrated into the society as most of them are having continuous health diseases, some are disabled and most of them have family issues”, he said.

“Some of their children are sick and also their families so we had to consider these factors. But all of them have undergone all the necessary courses provided by the Rehabilitation Bureau”, he added.

Presently the cadres in the rehabilitation process are undergoing a final test in mason skills, handicraft work and paintings. The rehabilitated cadres have been given vocational, language and communication training to improve their skills and their educational knowledge.

Though there had been 24 rehabilitation centers for ex-LTTE combatants at the inception, there are only nine rehabilitation centers at present Major General Ranasignhe said. 

According to the Commissioner General so far 7,200 out of 11,700 surrendered LTTE cadres, have been released and further 4500, are being rehabilitated in camps.